regressive
adjEtymology Borrowed from Latin regressīvus, equivalent to regress + -ive.
1
That tends to return, revert or regress.
- Some say history repeats itself, that time is cyclical. Others cling to the notion of progress and change over time. Apparently Nancy Walker marches to a different drummer — marches backwards, that is. Her ideas on art and society seem quaint and odd on the one hand and, on the other, petty and regressive.1981 December 27, Wade Nichols, “Victorian Imperialism”, in Gay Community News, volume 9, number 23, page 5:
- A contributing factor to this slightly regressive femininity may have been the sugary fabrics (silver lamé, tulle over sequins) and the meringuelike puffs and baby Googums bows at the neck.2007 February 6, Cathy Horyn, “Young Spirits, One of Them an Old Master”, in The New York Times:
1 more example
- He likes experimenting with flamboyant clothes! That’s it! It’s weird and regressive to think that means he is making a statement about his sexual orientation or gender identity. Let the man wear his “clowncore” jumpsuits in peace.2023 February 8, Arwa Mahdawi, “People like Harry Styles don’t get awards? Pah!”, in G2 (w:The Guardian), London, page 3:
2
Of a tax Whose rate decreases as the taxed amount increases.
- Antonyms
- progressive
- Derived terms
- autoregressive, regressive argument, regressive assimilation, regressive left, regressive leftism, regressive leftist, regressively, regressiveness, regressivism, regressivity, unregressive, vasoregressive
- Related terms
- regress, regression