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progressive

progressive

105 5.1
A person who supports social and political change to make society fairer
  • noun
  • /prəˈɡrɛsɪv/
translation icon : progresista
  • American progressives were in a panic.
  • liberals and progressives
  • pragmatist progressives
  • most progressives

And so really, the progressives might say you have no right.

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Examples

  • For progressives today, fascism is on the right, a philosophy of nationalism and authoritarianism.

  • Before then, I was just a standard straight issue, you know, Ivy League liberal, progressive type person.

  • The President believed the U.S. should take a position that progressives could support.

    Academic text (1994)
  • The two men recognized each other as fellow progressives.

  • Margaret Sanger, a progressive who wanted to help humanity.

  • The problem for social workers and for progressives generally is developing a strategy for defending Social Security and Medicare.

    Academic text (2000)
  • The organization is made up of a diverse group of progressives who advocate for environmental reforms.

  • As a proud progressive, she actively promotes social justice and equality in her community.

  • The progressives gathered to discuss new initiatives for improving civil rights.

Synonyms

liberal
vsprogressive
651 3.9

A person who supports social change and people's rights

focuses on reform and civil liberties within political debates
activist
vsprogressive
542 2.5

A person who campaigns for political or social change

advocates beliefs through political work rather than only campaigning methods
leftist
vsprogressive
63 3.5

A person who supports more social equality and government help in the economy

is more specific to reform and civil liberties within mainstream politics
civil libertarian
vsprogressive
7 7.5

A person who supports strong personal rights and wants the government to not interfere in private choices

focuses more widely on social reform as well as civil liberties
reformist
vsprogressive
6 6.1

A person who wants to change political or social systems

includes also the protection of civil liberties and wider political change goals
prog
vsprogressive
  • Offensive
1 8.9

A person who supports new social or political ideas

is the common term for a political advocate of those reforms
liberalist
vsprogressive
1 7.0

A person who supports political freedom, social change and basic rights

advocates social reform and civil liberties broadly in politics
progger
vsprogressive
  • Offensive
9.8

A person who supports political ideas that want social change, sometimes used as an insult

is the neutral, descriptive term for such a political advocate

Antonyms

A person who holds strongly to old customs and resists change

Compounds

A tax system where people with higher incomes pay a larger percentage of their income

A former American political party founded by Theodore Roosevelt in 1912 called the Bull Moose Party

Rock music with long, complex songs that mix other styles and sounds

future progressive
  • Specialized
5.5

A verb tense that shows an action will be happening at a future time

6.2

A verb form showing an action that will be happening at a certain time in the future

progressive aspect
  • Specialized
7.0

A verb form that shows an action or state is happening now

Values and habits that welcome change, new ideas, and actions to make society fairer

A fast, often deadly infection caused by bacteria that kills body tissue and makes gas in the wound

A way of loving in a relationship that grows and changes over time

progressive tense
  • Specialized
3.7

A verb form that shows an action is continuing at a specific time

progressive vaccinia
  • Specialized
9.8

A serious skin infection after smallpox vaccination that grows steadily and can be fatal in people with weak immune systems

past progressive
  • Specialized
3.7

A verb form that shows an action happening at a certain time in the past

4.0

Shows an action that was happening at a certain time in the past

5.3

A verb form using has/have been plus -ing to show an action that started in the past and continues now

present progressive
  • Specialized
3.4

A verb form showing actions happening now using am, is, or are plus -ing

4.8

A verb form that shows an action happening now

How Progressive

radical
79 6.3
progressive
105 5.1
moderate
85 4.6
conservative
4.6

Surface Forms

progressive singular
progressives plural

Morphology

progressive = progressive (semi-transparent) = progress + ive

The noun is a conversion of the adjective 'progressive', and the political sense is recognizable but somewhat specialized.

Etymology

Progressive comes from pro- 'forward' and gress 'go', the same root in progress. So a progressive (a person) is someone who supports changes meant to move society 'forward', such as new laws or social reforms.