regressive
adjective
re·gres·sive
ri-ˈgre-siv 
1
: tending to regress or produce regression
2
: being, characterized by, or developing in the course of an evolutionary process involving increasing simplification of bodily structure
3
: decreasing in rate as the base increases
a regressive tax
Examples of regressive in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Equally, ignoring the barriers imposed historically and currently against many of our fellow humans will not only impact thousands of careers but will have a regressive effect on our abilities to work together and develop an essential glue of civil society, empathy.
—
Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 4 Feb. 2025
The federal income tax is progressive by design, whereas an all-out tariff could create regressive outcomes—burdening lower and middle-income Americans while favoring higher-income individuals and corporations.
—Jonathan Granoff, Newsweek, 29 Jan. 2025
Wealthy voters and the investing class had failed to recognize that fact and how tariffs (and other regressive taxes) tended to make the problem worse.
—Joseph Thorndike, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025
The musical, directed by Jacques Audiard, has been slammed by critics and on social media for its regressive portrayal of trans identity.
—Kyndall Cunningham, Vox, 28 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for regressive 
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Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 4 Feb. 2025
The federal income tax is progressive by design, whereas an all-out tariff could create regressive outcomes—burdening lower and middle-income Americans while favoring higher-income individuals and corporations.
—Jonathan Granoff, Newsweek, 29 Jan. 2025
Wealthy voters and the investing class had failed to recognize that fact and how tariffs (and other regressive taxes) tended to make the problem worse.
—Joseph Thorndike, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025
The musical, directed by Jacques Audiard, has been slammed by critics and on social media for its regressive portrayal of trans identity.
—Kyndall Cunningham, Vox, 28 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for regressive
Dictionary Entries Near regressive
Cite this Entry
“Regressive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/regressive. Accessed 10 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
regressive
adjective
re·gres·sive
ri-ˈgres-iv
1
: of, relating to, or tending toward regression
2
: gradually decreasing
a regressive tax
Medical Definition
regressive
adjective
re·gres·sive
ri-ˈgres-iv
: relating to, resulting from, producing, or characterized by regression
regressive behavior
regressive tissue changes
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