retrogressive

[ re-truh-gres-iv ]

adjective

1. characterized by retrogression; degenerating.

   Synonyms: backward

   Antonyms: progressive

Other Words From

• retro·gressive·ly adverb
• unret·ro·gressive adjective
• unret·ro·gressive·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of retrogressive¹

1795–1805; < Latin retrōgress ( us ) ( retrogress ) + -ive

Example Sentences

Not all conservatives are retrogressive.

From Salon

“And it’s really important to embrace that diversity and understand it rather than try and have some really retrogressive approaches, which have little imagination and only fit certain people who will fit inside a certain shape box.”

From New York Times

"Stopping foreigners from doing legitimate business in Kenya is retrogressive. We need to see how to build the capacity of Kenyans to be able to produce competitive products," says Kenyan economist Gerrishon Ikiara.

From BBC

But since the Supreme Court gutted that provision of the law, "it gives everyone carte blanche ability to implement any kind of voting legislation, irrespective of whether or not it's retrogressive or hurtful to all voters or even to specific voting populations."

From Salon

What could be crazier and more retrogressive was the lavish 1961 movie adaptation of “West Side Story,” which has now been lavishly remade by Steven Spielberg and opens in theaters today.

From Los Angeles Times