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

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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

While hot at the plate over the last few days, Grisham hasn’t been able to replicate his breakout production from a season ago and has continued to regress in center field. — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 13 Aug. 2026 After leading Boston College to a 7-6 record and Pinstripe Bowl appearance his first season, the Eagles regressed in 2025, finishing with a 2-10 record and ahead of only Syracuse in the ACC. — ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026

Noun

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 The gains came after the latest whipsaw moves for oil prices, which surged toward their highest levels since the war with Iran began only to quickly regress. — Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for regress

Recent Examples of Synonyms for regress

Verb

That project was scrapped in February 2025 due to creative differences and the rights have since reverted back to Maas.

— Jennifer Maas, Variety, 17 Aug. 2026
Stock Chart IconStock chart icon Marathon Petroleum, YTD Cyclical (or mean reverting) businesses look cheapest at the top as P/Es fall on record earnings.

— Michael Khouw, CNBC, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of revert

Verb

The Associated Press OSLO, Norway -- Crown Prince Haakon visited his father King Harald of Norway on Monday at the hospital, after the king's health deteriorated over the weekend, public broadcaster NRK reported.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026
Now held with dozens of others in a former luxury hotel turned makeshift prison, the group describe chains, deteriorating conditions, scarce medical care and guards accused of violence.

— Mark Banchereau, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of deteriorate

Noun

With Belton’s regression and weaknesses in pass protection relegating him to the backup right tackle, the starting right guard spot seems to be a competition between Jacob Monk (currently leading) and Burton.

— Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026
Injuries have played a role in his regression; his first full season with the Bengals ended last November because of a hamstring injury.

— Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of regression

Verb

And his status as a player returning from injury will act as a counterweight to the pressure of being defending champion.

— Ava Wallace, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026
In his second start since returning from the 15-day Injured List, Tampa Bay’s Shane McClanahan tossed five shutout innings and gave up four hits.

— Harvey Valentine, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of return

Verb

Ford said in an interview published Monday that Canada should be prepared to cut off electricity exports to the United States if the trade war worsens, putting a potentially powerful weapon on the table.

— Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026
According to a recent survey published by Deloitte, consumer sentiment remains shaky, with 57% of Americans expecting the economy to worsen in the next six months — the highest figure the company has reported since 2020.

— Joe Bobowicz, Vogue, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of worsen

Verb

However, entering June, crude prices pulled back significantly, while retail gasoline prices declined at a markedly slower pace.

— , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
At home several center-right parties initially declined to join his coalition, illustrating the challenge of uniting the broader Brazilian right behind his candidacy.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of decline

Verb

After descending in a metal cage elevator, Riff Raff removes his cape, revealing Frank-N-Furter in a corset, fishnets and pearls.

— Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026
Video captured by security cameras perched on the mountainside show the horrifying moment when the wall of mud descended on the Gyirong Port facility, swallowing the six-story building whole as dozens of people run for their lives.

— Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of descend

Verb

For decades, Mamdani’s predecessors have found the only choice more politically unpalatable than letting the whole three-layer cake of infrastructure crumble away is trying to stop it from crumbling.

— Justin Davidson, Curbed, 24 Aug. 2026
The crumbling structure carries roughly 130,000 vehicles daily — of which some 13,000 are trucks — and has been in serious need of repair since the de Blasio administration.

— Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of crumble

Browse Nearby Words

regnant

regress

regressed

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Regress.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/regress. Accessed 30 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of regress

verb

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

illustrious

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Commonly Misspelled Words

Popular in Wordplay

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 28

Why do we say 'break a leg'?

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes