Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

regressive

/ɹəɡɹˈɛsɪv/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.96 in modern English

Syllables: re-gres-sive
IPA: /ɹəɡɹˈɛsɪv/

14

Scrabble Score

10

Letters

3

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

That tends to return, revert or regress.

adj

Whose rate decreases as the taxed amount increases.

Example Sentences

"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."
"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."
"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."

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin regressīvus, equivalent to regress + -ive.

Inflected Forms

more regressive (comparative) most regressive (superlative)

Derived Forms

autoregressive regressively regressiveness regressivism regressivity unregressive vasoregressive

Phrases

regressive argument regressive assimilation regressive left regressive leftism regressive leftist

Frequently Paired Words

regress regression

Antonyms

progressive

Rhymes With

impressive progressive aggressive excessive successive oppressive obsessive expressive depressive possessive repressive recessive

Questions

How do you pronounce regressive?: The recorded pronunciation is /ɹəɡɹˈɛsɪv/.
What does regressive mean?: That tends to return, revert or regress.
Where does regressive come from?: Borrowed from Latin regressīvus, equivalent to regress + -ive.

How to pronounce regressive

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “regressive”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ɹəɡɹˈɛsɪv/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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