regressive

/rəˈɡrɛsɪv/

Other forms: regressively

Use the adjective regressive to describe something that moves backward instead of forward, like a society that grants women fewer and fewer rights each year.

To understand the word regressive, it's helpful to know that its antonym, or opposite, is progressive. When something is progressive, it tends to get better and more advanced. Something that's regressive, on the other hand, gets less developed or returns to an older state. Since the late 1800s, regressive has also labeled a kind of tax policy that rewards those who make more money and punishes those who make less.

Definitions of regressive

1. adjective

   opposing progress; returning to a former less advanced state
   synonyms:

   backward

   directed or facing toward the back or rear

   atavistic, throwback

   characteristic of an atavist

   retrograde, retrogressive

   going from better to worse

   returning, reverting

   tending to return to an earlier state

   unmodernised, unmodernized

   not brought up to date

   antonyms:

   progressive

   favoring or promoting progress

   forward

   at or near or directed toward the front

   industrial

   having highly developed industries

   advanced, forward-looking, innovative, modern

   ahead of the times

   advancing, forward, forward-moving

   moving forward

   modernised, modernized

   brought up to date

   state-of-the-art

   the highest level of development at a particular time (especially the present time)
2. adjective

   (of taxes) adjusted so that the rate decreases as the amount of income increases
   antonyms:

   progressive

   (of taxes) adjusted so that the rate increases as the amount of income increases

   degressive

   (of taxes) gradually decreasing in rate on sums below a certain amount