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
Examples of regressive in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The inflation tax is also regressive, as price inflation is more of a burden to those at the lower end of the income scale than to billionaires.
—
Ron Paul, Orange County Register, 24 June 2024
That leaves regressive property taxes as one of few options.
—Lilly Price, Baltimore Sun, 24 June 2024
Roughly two-thirds of all revenues generated by state and local government combined in 2020 came from property, sales and other taxes that largely are regressive in nature, the study found.
—Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 17 Feb. 2024
Totally unbelievable as this once would have been, that demonic treachery was clearly led by America’s fiercest mis-leader, Donald Trump, who offers no public policies other than the traumatizing negativities of grift, greed, distortion, hate, destruction, ignorance and regressive oppression.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 6 Jan. 2024
See all Example Sentences for regressive 
Ron Paul, Orange County Register, 24 June 2024
That leaves regressive property taxes as one of few options.
—Lilly Price, Baltimore Sun, 24 June 2024
Roughly two-thirds of all revenues generated by state and local government combined in 2020 came from property, sales and other taxes that largely are regressive in nature, the study found.
—Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 17 Feb. 2024
Totally unbelievable as this once would have been, that demonic treachery was clearly led by America’s fiercest mis-leader, Donald Trump, who offers no public policies other than the traumatizing negativities of grift, greed, distortion, hate, destruction, ignorance and regressive oppression.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 6 Jan. 2024
See all Example Sentences for regressive
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'regressive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near regressive
Cite this Entry
“Regressive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/regressive. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
regressive
adjective
re·gres·sive
ri-ˈgres-iv
1
: of, relating to, or tending toward regression
2
: gradually decreasing
a regressive tax
Medical Definition
regressive
adjective
re·gres·sive
ri-ˈgres-iv
: relating to, resulting from, producing, or characterized by regression
regressive behavior
regressive tissue changes
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