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progressive

[pruh-gres-iv] / prəˈgrɛs ɪv /
ADJECTIVE
seeking social improvement
Synonyms
STRONGEST
forward-looking forward-thinking left left of center leftist liberal reformist
STRONG
avant-garde broad-minded enlightened modern nontraditional open-minded tolerant
WEAK
bleeding-heart broad radical revolutionary
Antonyms
STRONG
conservative moderate orthodox traditional
ADJECTIVE
proceeding step by step
Synonyms
STRONGEST
growing progressing
STRONG
accelerating advancing continuing developing escalating evolving improving increasing intensifying
WEAK
advanced continuous dynamic enterprising go ahead graduated moving forward ongoing up-and-coming up-to-date

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Tax Foundation reports the U.S. tax system is progressive, with the top 1% paying 27% of federal taxes in 2022.

From Barron's • Apr. 22, 2026

Soo’s Bonnie sweetly embodies the excesses of a kind of progressive piety.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 21, 2026

Cheyenne Hunt, the executive director of progressive nonprofit Gen Z for Change and one of those involved in the Swalwell allegations becoming public, has offered to help former Swalwell staffers find new jobs.

From Salon • Apr. 19, 2026

Pope Francis was often seen as a spontaneous progressive, who sometimes alienated Catholic traditionalists - for example in his restrictions on Latin Mass, which Pope Leo has eased.

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026

He was a democratically elected leader, and a progressive.

From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi

Vocabulary lists containing progressive

TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)

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Drama

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Theodore Roosevelt on "New Nationalism" (1910)

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