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
regressively adverb
regressiveness noun
regressivity
ˌrē-ˌgre-ˈsi-və-tē
noun 
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Inflation is a regressive tax that most hurts the least affluent. 
Erin Prater, Fortune, 15 May 2022 Daniels emphasizes that images like the one published to the Facebook page are regressive to the progress of racial equity. Kalyn Dunkins | Kdunkins@al.com, al, 23 Aug. 2022 Inflation is a regressive tax that most hurts the least affluent. Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 16 May 2022 In addition, the extended subsidies are highly regressive. John C. Goodman, Forbes, 19 July 2022 The moms told Fox News Digital that the term is regressive by defining a woman on her ability to conceive a child. Hannah Grossman, Fox News, 28 July 2022 He was considered too radical by many Orthodox rabbis and too regressive by many Conservative Jewish leaders. New York Times, 17 July 2022 Lower-income people spend more of their income on gas—it’s one of these quote-unquote regressive taxes. The Politics Of Everything, The New Republic, 13 July 2022 Which begs the question—is Hooters really as regressive as its backlash suggests? Lela London, Forbes, 17 June 2022 See More
Erin Prater, Fortune, 15 May 2022 Daniels emphasizes that images like the one published to the Facebook page are regressive to the progress of racial equity. Kalyn Dunkins | Kdunkins@al.com, al, 23 Aug. 2022 Inflation is a regressive tax that most hurts the least affluent. Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 16 May 2022 In addition, the extended subsidies are highly regressive. John C. Goodman, Forbes, 19 July 2022 The moms told Fox News Digital that the term is regressive by defining a woman on her ability to conceive a child. Hannah Grossman, Fox News, 28 July 2022 He was considered too radical by many Orthodox rabbis and too regressive by many Conservative Jewish leaders. New York Times, 17 July 2022 Lower-income people spend more of their income on gas—it’s one of these quote-unquote regressive taxes. The Politics Of Everything, The New Republic, 13 July 2022 Which begs the question—is Hooters really as regressive as its backlash suggests? Lela London, Forbes, 17 June 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
1634, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Medical Definition
regressive
adjective
re·gres·sive ri-ˈgres-iv
: relating to, resulting from, producing, or characterized by regression
regressive behavior
regressive tissue changes
regressive
adjective
as in decremental
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- decremental
- degressive
- decrescent
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- cumulative
- incremental
- additive
- accumulative
- gradual
- accretive
- progressive
- stepwise
- conglomerative
- step-by-step
- increscent