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Vocabulary Builder — Essay & Answer Writing

Regressive

adjective / rih-GRES-iv / Medium
Meaning

Tending to harm the poor more than the rich, or to move backward; the opposite of progressive

Origin / Etymology

From Latin regressus, a return or going back, from regredi (to step back)

Synonyms
Retrogressive Backward Inequitable Disproportionate
Antonyms
Progressive Equitable Redistributive
Example Sentence
"A tariff that hits labour-intensive textiles is regressive in its human impact, falling hardest on low-income workers."
🎯 UPSC Usage

Precise for GS2 and GS3 answers on taxation, subsidies and trade. A regressive tax or measure takes a larger share from the poor than the rich, the opposite of a progressive one. Use to critique the distributional impact of a policy, for example indirect taxes or a blanket tariff.

Relevant Subjects
Economy
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