REGRESS Synonyms: 111 Similar and Opposite Words

regress 1 of 2

verb

ri-ˈgres

Definition of regress

as in to revert

to go back to a previous and usually lower state or level in extreme circumstances, people sometimes regress to the behavior they exhibited in childhood

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to deteriorate

to become worse or of less value the annual celebration has regressed to the point where it's nothing more than an excuse to get drunk

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

regress

2 of 2

noun

as in regression

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of regress

Verb

On the other side, the Los Angeles Chargers (0-4) look like they’re headed to a lost season and quarterback Justin Herbert is regressing. — Jeff Howe, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026 That efficiency, however, regressed against the Giants (64-91). — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2026

Noun

As with Minten, the B’s continuing to move forward and not regress is incumbent on young players like Hagens and Khusnutidinov to have impacts. — Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 7 July 2026 Young children often complain of physical symptoms such as stomachaches, develop separation anxiety, and regress to earlier behaviors like bed-wetting. — Claudia Boyd-Barrett, CBS News, 18 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for regress

Recent Examples of Synonyms for regress

Verb

If performance reverted as soon as the executive left, the transformation was never complete.

— Rob Versaw, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Airlines can revert some Maxes to the older software version.

— Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 26 Sep. 2026

Definition of revert

Verb

Such a summit would be unprecedented and deeply alarming to Ukraine’s European allies, particularly as relations between Washington and Kyiv deteriorate.

— Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 19 Oct. 2026
The situation deteriorated further after the outbreak of the Lebanese civil war in 1975.

— ABC News, ABC News, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of deteriorate

Noun

Some hope settled after Missouri drop-kicked Florida’s momentum 45-17 last Saturday, even while regression, especially for a team that had already matched its win total from last fall, felt due.

— Noah White, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2026
Some regression was expected with the arrival of offensive coordinator Gordon Sammis from UConn and Harvard transfer quarterback Jaden Craig.

— Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of regression

Verb

The 20 countries at greatest risk of a worsening humanitarian crisis, ranked by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) annually in our Emergency Watchlist, represent just 12% of the global population, but 90% of those in humanitarian need.

— David Miliband, Time, 19 Oct. 2026
Both have become tools for wealthy families seeking easier travel or a fallback if political and economic conditions worsen at home.

— Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of worsen

Verb

But this morning an air of foreboding awakened me, and my little fishing barometer was already descending past the 29 mark.

— Gerald R. Hunter, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 2026
Authorities say Riek and his passengers were flying to Menominee from Kenosha, and the NTSB said Riek reported icing on the wings and needed to descend.

— Frankie McLister, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of descend

Verb

By Saturday night, Long Beach reported that seawater had entered homes and into streets, with the city’s Peninsula neighborhood being hard hit, and its boardwalk crumbling.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026
As Ray goes down the rabbit hole, the shiny facade of Metropia and Megamax (which is, notably and obviously evil from the start) begin to crumble.

— Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of crumble

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regress

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Style

“Regress.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/regress. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of regress

verb

noun

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