Progress and Regress

Progress

Progress noun - Forward movement in time or place.
Usage example: we're making slow progress against this stiff headwind

Regress is an antonym for progress in topics: develop, move on.

Regress

Regress verb - To go back to a previous and usually lower state or level.
Usage example: in extreme circumstances, people sometimes regress to the behavior they exhibited in childhood

Progress is an antonym for regress in topics: revert, return to earlier way of doing things.

Both words in one sentence

  • Darker And Edgier / Video Games By Phantasy Star IV, Motavia has reverted back to a hostile desert planet, with monsters running rampant and technological progress starting to regress.
  • Magic Music Females in the area of effect may regress (or progress) to around 18, in 68% of cases their clothing will change into leather fetish gear, lingerie and G-string bikinis;
    Source: Magic Music
Cite this Source
Regress and Progress. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 15, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/progress/regress
Progress & Regress. N.p., 2016. Web. 15 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/progress/regress>.
Regress or Progress. 2016. Accessed August 15, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/progress/regress.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "progress" and "regress" have occurred on timeline