it was retrogressive

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was retrogressive" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation, action, or policy that represents a return to a less advanced or less developed state. Example: "The new policy was criticized because it was retrogressive, undoing many of the advancements made in social equality."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

And these experts thought it was retrogressive in its reliance on American universities, faith-based organizations and nongovernmental organizations, whose ability to pay higher salaries could drain workers from local public health systems that should be reinforced instead.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The level of unapologetic conjecture I've encountered lately isn't just frustrating, it's retrogressive, unprecedented and absolutely terrifying.

Huffington Post

If the setting is retro, many of its values are retrogressive.

The Guardian

Cavanagh said while the arrest was lawful under NT legislation, the paperless arrest scheme was "retrogressive" and unjustifiable preventative detention, and recommended it be repealed.

The Guardian

Cavenagh said although the arrest was lawful under NT legislation, the paperless arrest scheme was "retrogressive" and unjustifiable preventive detention.

The Guardian

But it was the "retrogressive" style that upset Ferguson — because it was when Orson Welles, an "artist" director, joined the toughness and cynicism and the verbal skills of the thirties to that incomparable, faintly absurd, wonderfully overblown style of his that people said "art".

The New Yorker

I encounter nearly universal skepticism about the prospects for what most people call "balance," a term that is retrogressive because it compels you to think in terms of tradeoffs.

Harvard Business Review

The most famous and influential ballet dancer of all time, Anna Pavlova, may have been retrogressive in her tastes, but it can be argued that she had more immediate impact on the world than any choreographer has ever had; she got it to look at ballet.

The New York Times - Books

But most disappointing of all, for readers, is that commenters don't, as literary critics say, read an article against itself to show how, for example, an argument framed as incendiary is in fact banal, or one that's meant to be feminist is retrogressive, or one that touts its originality is a knockoff.

The New York Times - Magazine

Because Jaguar got a new owner last year, it recently launched the XF saloon; it has just launched a whole new range of engines (thus rendering those first XFs obsolescent), and soon it will reveal a new XJ saloon as futuristic as the current one is retrogressive.

Independent

And a lot of radicals are not going to like it, because most radicals believe that to talk about God and the Devil is retrogressive.' Add up the Jews, the fundamentalists, the radicals and what he calls the Acumenarians', an especially low form of critical life in Mailer 's world, and he's just about to alienate most of America.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it was retrogressive", ensure the context clearly establishes what progress or advancement is being undermined. This helps avoid ambiguity and strengthens the impact of your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "it was retrogressive" when simply describing something old-fashioned. Retrogressiveness implies an active reversal of progress, not just a lack of modernity. If something is merely outdated, consider using "it was outdated" or "it was old-fashioned" instead.

Linguistic Context

It functions as a descriptor, indicating that something has moved backward or reverted to a less developed state. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. The phrase often carries a negative connotation, implying that progress has been undone.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it was retrogressive" is used to express that something has moved backward or reverted to an earlier, less advanced state. Ludwig AI confirms it is grammatically sound and suitable for formal contexts like news, science, and business writing. When using "it was retrogressive", ensure clarity by specifying what progress has been undermined. Related phrases include "it represented a step back" and "it signified a regression". Avoid using it merely to describe something old; retrogressiveness implies an active reversal of advancement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it represented a step back

Emphasizes the idea of moving backward from a previous position or achievement.

it signified a regression

Focuses on the decline or return to a less developed state.

it marked a decline

Highlights the deterioration or weakening of something.

it constituted a setback

Stresses the obstruction or hindrance to progress.

it indicated a backward trend

Points to a general movement in the reverse direction.

it was a move in the wrong direction

Suggests that the action taken is misguided or counterproductive.

it harked back to earlier times

Implies a return to older, potentially outdated practices.

it was a throwback

Indicates something resembling or characteristic of a past era.

it relapsed into old patterns

Highlights a return to previous, possibly undesirable behaviors or situations.

it backslid

Describes a moral or behavioral relapse.

FAQs

How can I use "it was retrogressive" in a sentence?

Use "it was retrogressive" to describe an action, decision, or policy that reverses progress or returns to less advanced practices. For example, "The new law "it was retrogressive" in its approach to environmental protection".

What's a good alternative to "it was retrogressive"?

Consider alternatives such as "it represented a step back", "it signified a regression", or "it marked a decline" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "it was retrogressive" formal or informal?

"It was retrogressive" leans towards a more formal register, suitable for academic, professional, or journalistic contexts. In casual conversation, simpler terms might be more appropriate.

What does it mean for something to be described as "retrogressive"?

When something is described as "retrogressive", it means that it is causing a return to previous, often worse, conditions or practices. It suggests a reversal of progress or advancement.