1
as in to revert
to go back to a previous and usually lower state or level
in extreme circumstances, people sometimes regress to the behavior they exhibited in childhood
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to deteriorate
to become worse or of less value
the annual celebration has regressed to the point where it's nothing more than an excuse to get drunk
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in regression
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of regress
Mike Vorkunov, New York Times, 5 Feb. 2026
Rochelle said in the three months living apart from his nana, Jayden’s development regressed.
—Jayme Fraser, USA Today, 4 Feb. 2026
Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
But city officials say recent strong performance of the stock market makes the city’s pension outlook more likely to improve than regress.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for regress
Verb
His shooting numbers have regressed — his effective field goal percentage is the lowest of his career, and his scoring has dropped into the teens.
—Mike Vorkunov, New York Times, 5 Feb. 2026
Rochelle said in the three months living apart from his nana, Jayden’s development regressed.
—Jayme Fraser, USA Today, 4 Feb. 2026
Noun
Over the season’s first quarter, the Premier League has appeared to regress, stylistically, from a peak of some five years ago.
—Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
But city officials say recent strong performance of the stock market makes the city’s pension outlook more likely to improve than regress.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for regress
Recent Examples of Synonyms for regress
Verb
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Contingency plans are in place should the security situation deteriorate, which may necessitate reverting individual sailings or the wider structural change of the service back to the Cape of Good Hope route, Maersk said.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
4 Feb. 2026
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In truth, Johnson’s lack of meaningful contribution to date may now prompt Palace to revert back to that way of operating in future.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Because of deteriorating conditions, operations were transitioned to a defensive strategy, Marceau said.—
Jalen Williams,
Freep.com,
5 Feb. 2026
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Working conditions, meanwhile, have continued to deteriorate as the demands on workers increase.—
Sam Tabachnik,
Denver Post,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Rozier’s play fell off the proverbial cliff the following season, a level of regression extremely rare for a player in his prime.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
10 Feb. 2026
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Most of these kids are on individualized education programs, and regression can happen quickly.—
Amanda Hari,
CBS News,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Ukrainian officials said 150 Ukrainian servicemen and seven civilians returned from Russian captivity.—
DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE STAFF FROM WIRE REPORTS,
Arkansas Online,
6 Feb. 2026
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Austin Reaves, who was playing in his second game after returning from a 19-game absence, scores 13 of his 35 points in the fourth quarter.—
Broderick Turner,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The hospital cleared him for incarceration with a Narcan prescription and instructions to return to the emergency room if symptoms worsened, the lawsuit alleged.—
Theresa Clift,
Sacbee.com,
10 Feb. 2026
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While mandatory restrictions are not expected, Frost said the utility encourages everyday conservation and would coordinate closely with other utilities along the river if drought conditions worsen.—
Nora O'Neill,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The driver and bicyclist declined to be transported to the hospital, according to officials.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Feb. 2026
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The sheriff declined to answer several questions, including one from a reporter who asked if there was a ransom demanded.—
Adam Sabes , Michael Ruiz , Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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This time last year, the Davis Cup descended into farce and acrimony when Zizou Bergs of Belgium collided with Chile’s Cristian Garín at a changeover and set off a chain of events that led to Garín losing the match after being timed out.—
James Hansen,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
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This weekend, Super Bowl crowds are descending on San Francisco for the first time in ten years—and the timing couldn’t be more apt.—
Julia Black,
Vanity Fair,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But empires fall, and dynasties crumble.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
8 Feb. 2026
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Harkening back to the out-of-this-world aesthetics that won them broad acclaim for Poor Things, the commercial opens on a crumbling modernist edifice on a rocky outcrop in a stormy ocean.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Regress.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/regress. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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