to retrogress

Examples

• All

• It eventually retrogressed into a rather stodgy, generic church type, usually in brick, with traditional gestures in overall shape, spires, belfries, and window treatment.

  Academic text (2001)

• Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping said in August 1981, "If worse comes to worse and the relations retrogress to those prior to 1972, . . ." implying that China might downgrade ties with Washington.

  Academic text (2002)

• It's keeps them from retrogressing.

  The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996)

• China EB-2 will be retrogressed, although not as badly as India.

  Blog text (10)

• Retrogressing into what?

  The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996)

• Retrogressing enough to be sure we'd backed out predation would have meant losing that advance, too.

  Fiction book (2002)

• Thus, it may be that WTO jurisprudence has retrogressed to what it was before the 1981 Council Decision, when the Tax Legislation Cases panel found territorial tax practices to be export subsidies.

  Fiction book (2000)

• If we do not take action, the community may retrogress to the poverty it experienced years ago.

• Many fear that political instability can cause a society to retrogress instead of continuing to advance.

• Without proper education, children may retrogress into ignorance and miss opportunities for growth.

Synonyms

R

to revert

vsto retrogress

67 4.2

To go back to a previous state or way of doing things

adds the idea of decline or worsening rather than simple return

R

to regress

vsto retrogress

24 7.5

To return to an earlier, less developed or worse state

is the same concept expressed without extra nuance

F

to fall back

vsto retrogress

13 4.2

To begin an old bad habit again after trying to change

is less specific covering any backward move rather than only habits

R

to relapse

vsto retrogress

11 6.1

To become ill again or return to a bad habit after getting better

focuses on general deterioration beyond medical or habit setbacks

L

to lapse

vsto retrogress

8 5.2

To return to a previous bad habit

signifies a broader backward movement often more lasting or serious

B

to backslide

vsto retrogress

2 7.5

To start doing old bad habits again after making progress

is broader covering any backward change not only behavior

R

to retrograde

vsto retrogress

8.2

To become worse or return to an earlier state

focuses on backward deterioration rather than simple change

R

to retrovert

vsto retrogress

9.9

To go back to an earlier state or way of doing things

implies decline or deterioration rather than mere return

Antonyms

I

to improve

∞ 1.0

To make something better

P

progress

∞ 2.5

Forward change toward a goal or better state

How Regressive

to degenerate

34 6.3

to deteriorate

146 5.9

to retrogress

• Formal

1 8.7

to decline

344 3.7

to slip

184 3.5

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology