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
Economists argue that higher tariffs amount to a regressive tax, since the consumer goods that are subject to tariffs make up a larger share of the expenses for low- and middle-income households.
—
Tobias Burns, The Hill, 9 Apr. 2025
That alone turns this regressive tax into a functionally racist tax in application.
—Tax Notes Staff, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
If anything, becoming a weird little guy, by my definition, is about rejecting the despair that leads down those kinds of regressive paths, and daring to care about something, even — and perhaps especially — if that something might seem kind of dumb or trivial to the outside world.
—James Factora, Them., 28 Mar. 2025
The Grocery Tax Relief Act ends our state's most regressive tax, the state Grocery Tax, and eases the burden on families just trying to put food on their tables.
—William Lambers, Newsweek, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for regressive
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Tobias Burns, The Hill, 9 Apr. 2025
That alone turns this regressive tax into a functionally racist tax in application.
—Tax Notes Staff, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
If anything, becoming a weird little guy, by my definition, is about rejecting the despair that leads down those kinds of regressive paths, and daring to care about something, even — and perhaps especially — if that something might seem kind of dumb or trivial to the outside world.
—James Factora, Them., 28 Mar. 2025
The Grocery Tax Relief Act ends our state's most regressive tax, the state Grocery Tax, and eases the burden on families just trying to put food on their tables.
—William Lambers, Newsweek, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for regressive
Cite this Entry
“Regressive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/regressive. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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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