retrogress

American  

[re-truh-gres, re-truh-gres] / ˌrɛ trəˈgrɛs, ˈrɛ trəˌgrɛs /

verb (used without object)

1. to go backward into an earlier and usually worse condition.

   to retrogress to infantilism.

   Synonyms:

   revert, retreat, withdraw, retrograde, degenerate, decline

2. to move backward.

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retrogress British  

/ ˌrɛtrəʊˈɡrɛs /

verb

1. to go back to an earlier, esp worse, condition; degenerate or deteriorate

2. to move backwards; recede

3. biology to develop characteristics or features of lower or simpler organisms; degenerate

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Other Word Forms

• retrogression
  noun
• retrogressive
  adjective
• retrogressively
  adverb

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Etymology

Origin of retrogress

First recorded in 1810–20; from Latin retrōgressus, past participle of retrōgradī “to go back or backward,” equivalent to retrō- “back, backward, behind” + gred-, combining form of gradī “to step, go” + -tus past participle suffix, with dt becoming ss; see retro-

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

retrogress

Sir: Premarital Murdock flagrantly contradicts his own anthropology and science when he advocates that we should retrogress thousands of years into the primitive "gland-motivated" society.

From Time Magazine Archive

Not to struggle is to retrogress, to collapse, to go revisionist.

From Time Magazine Archive

But it must be a slow, and occasionally, an interrupted progress, after a sad retrogress of nearly twelve years.

From Reminiscences of Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Robert Southey by Joseph Cottle

Would I could retrogress over the devious and enchanting itinerary.

From Shandygaff by Christopher Morley

In extremely exceptional instances the disease, after involving a small part, may retrogress and recovery take place.

From Essentials of Diseases of the Skin Including the Syphilodermata Arranged in the Form of Questions and Answers Prepared Especially for Students of Medicine by Henry Weightman Stelwagon

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