Synonyms for retrograde
- verb
- adjective
- noun
Most common
Synonyms by meaning
Verb
1. Backslide
3. Degenerate
Adjective
1. Backward
Other
Noun
1. Reactionary — one who opposes social reform, favouring the maintenance of the status quo; a conservative
reactionary, traditionalist, mossback informal US, mossyback US
Definitions
- v. 1
To cause (a land feature such as a coastline or waterfall) to undergo retrogradation, that is, to travel in the direction of the land or upstream due to erosion.
- v. 2
To change (minerals, rocks, etc.) metamorphically through a decrease in pressure or temperature.
- adj. 1
Directed or moving backwards in relation to the normal or previous direction of travel; retreating.
- n. 1
One who opposes social reform, favouring the maintenance of the status quo; a conservative.
Related words
- Word family
- retrogradely retrogradation retrogress retrogression retrogressive
- Phrases
- retrograde perfusion
Forms
- Plural
- retrogrades → reactionaries, traditionalists, mossbacks, mossybacks…
- Past participle
- retrograded
e.g. retrograded → backslid, regressed, retrogressed, rehashed…
Example sentences
- rehash I don't want to rehash all that stuff from the past.
- degenerate Don't allow your muscles to degenerate.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| retrograde | steady | |
| retrogress | falling | |
| rehash | rising | |
| degenerate | steady | |
| retrocede | falling |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 6 letters
- worsen2, recede2, rehash2, retral
- 7 letters
- decline2, regress2
- 8 letters
- backward2, mossback
- 9 letters
- backslide2, retrocede, mossyback
- 10 letters
- degenerate4, regressive3, retrogress
- 11 letters
- reactionary5, deteriorate5
- 12 letters
- posterograde
- 13 letters
- retrogressive
- 14 letters
- traditionalist5
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (worsen2 = 2 syllables).