as in reversion
the act or an instance of going back to an earlier and lower level especially of intelligence or behavior
social instability that has led to a retrogression of moral values and standards of decent behavior
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Recent Examples of retrogression
This book is all about the fight to stem the tide of retrogression.
—
Ken Makin, Christian Science Monitor, 19 Nov. 2025
Visa retrogression might become more of an issue for Indian and Chinese applicants who invest under the high-unemployment category due to its more limited availability.
—Sam Silverman, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
Does the Senate really want to put in office a secretary with zero medical training, who believes in raw milk and not in the extraordinary benefits of vaccinations, without asking him about such retrogression?
—Arthur House, Hartford Courant, 22 Nov. 2024
In another 5-to-4 decision, Justice O’Connor wrote an opinion that would significantly alter the initial retrogression standard established in Beer v. United States.
—Nick Corasaniti, New York Times, 21 Nov. 2023
Progressives de nos jours seem inordinately attached to retrogression.
—Kyle Smith, National Review, 8 June 2021
What explains the wide perception of racial retrogression at a time when surveys show that racial attitudes and behaviors have never been better?
—Jason L. Riley, WSJ, 27 Apr. 2021
For Fantom, his card showed nines of 40 and 39 for his 79, but his win wasn’t official until through retrogression, his score on the eighth handicap hole, was a stroke better better than that of Patterson Mill’s Brandon Palen, who also shot 79.
—Randy McRoberts, baltimoresun.com, 24 Oct. 2020
This duplicity is, as the museum called it, part of the American paradox: a museum that represents both stagnancy and change, advancement and retrogression, black America and the rest.
—Maya Phillips, The New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2019
Ken Makin, Christian Science Monitor, 19 Nov. 2025
Visa retrogression might become more of an issue for Indian and Chinese applicants who invest under the high-unemployment category due to its more limited availability.
—Sam Silverman, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
Does the Senate really want to put in office a secretary with zero medical training, who believes in raw milk and not in the extraordinary benefits of vaccinations, without asking him about such retrogression?
—Arthur House, Hartford Courant, 22 Nov. 2024
In another 5-to-4 decision, Justice O’Connor wrote an opinion that would significantly alter the initial retrogression standard established in Beer v. United States.
—Nick Corasaniti, New York Times, 21 Nov. 2023
Progressives de nos jours seem inordinately attached to retrogression.
—Kyle Smith, National Review, 8 June 2021
What explains the wide perception of racial retrogression at a time when surveys show that racial attitudes and behaviors have never been better?
—Jason L. Riley, WSJ, 27 Apr. 2021
For Fantom, his card showed nines of 40 and 39 for his 79, but his win wasn’t official until through retrogression, his score on the eighth handicap hole, was a stroke better better than that of Patterson Mill’s Brandon Palen, who also shot 79.
—Randy McRoberts, baltimoresun.com, 24 Oct. 2020
This duplicity is, as the museum called it, part of the American paradox: a museum that represents both stagnancy and change, advancement and retrogression, black America and the rest.
—Maya Phillips, The New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retrogression
Noun
-
The stock is finally starting to claw its way back, creating an ideal scenario for a mean reversion play.—
Nishant Pant,
CNBC,
12 May 2026
-
The situation is one of ideological ferment, rather than a reversion to some Romneyite center.—
Amy Davidson Sorkin,
New Yorker,
18 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The engineering team that was building new features is now fighting regressions.—
Alberto Gimeno,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
-
That plus a slight regression in one-score games means this fall’s record may well not look as gaudy as last year’s.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Retrogression.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retrogression. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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