progressive 1 of 2

adjective

prə-ˈgre-siv How to pronounce progressive (audio)
Definition of progressivenext
1
as in advanced
being far along in development progressive forms of animal life

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in liberal
not bound by traditional ways or beliefs a socially progressive community, it was the first to provide for the public education of girls

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in pioneering
being or employing the latest concepts, styles, or techniques one of the founders of progressive dance, Isadora Duncan became an inspiration to an array of free-spirited artists

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

progressive

2 of 2

noun

as in moderate

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of progressive
Adjective
Ahmed is heartened by the pushback against Hindu nationalism in recent years from progressive Hindus, Sikhs, Christians and Dalits, members of the former untouchable caste in India who have historically faced discrimination. — ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026 By Katrina vanden Heuvel, The Nation Founded by abolitionists in 1865, The Nation has chronicled the breadth and depth of political and cultural life, serving as a critical, independent, and progressive voice. — Washington Post, 27 Aug. 2026
Noun
Tuesday’s elections for the Florida Legislature saw a progressive from Kissimmee win a seat in the state House while incumbents romped in party primaries across Central Florida. — Silas Morgan, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Aug. 2026 Outside groups spent more than $63 million supporting Haley Stevens, a candidate backed by the establishment, dwarfing the amount spent on her opponent, a brash progressive named Abdul El-Sayed with a war chest some nine times smaller. — Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 5 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for progressive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for progressive
  1. advanced
  2. liberal
  3. pioneering
  4. moderate
  5. evolved
  6. modern
  7. unconventional
  8. reformer
Adjective
  • Goldman expects China’s advanced-node wafer supply to reach 410,000 wafers per month by 2035, compared with monthly demand of 619,000 wafers.
    — Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
  • The display was set up by police, with authorities saying some of the bodies recovered from the floods were in an advanced state of decomposition, making physical identification difficult.
    — Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of advanced
Adjective
  • These speeches, which Ossoff writes himself, have become a sensation among liberal voters, fueling talk of a presidential bid.
    — Sam Gringlas, NPR, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Rafał Trzaskowski, the liberal candidate, proposed restricting child welfare benefits for Ukrainians.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of liberal
Adjective
  • Nancy Grace Roman, born in 1925, was a pioneering astronomer and the first chief of astronomy at NASA.
    — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Below, Samia Halaby, another pioneering Palestinian painter, reflects on Mansour’s life and legacy.
    — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of pioneering
Noun
  • The race has already inflamed tensions within the Democratic Party over how to energize liberal voters eager for unapologetic, combative candidates while not alienating independents and moderates who have been key to winning in battlegrounds.
    — Matt Brown, Fortune, 19 Aug. 2026
  • As the official media partner for the Summit (which is the flagship industry event of the Zurich Film Festival), Deadline covers and moderates panels, hosts the Deadline Studio for executive interviews, and provides on-the-ground reporting.
    — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of moderate
Adjective
  • Dylan gives a subtle warning for Alex to stay away from Kylie, but Alex was still close to confessing his evolved feelings for her.
    — Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Chef Cristian Medrano’s menu exudes confidence in the form of evolved flavors with every dish.
    — Rafael Peña, Miami Herald, 16 July 2026
Definition of evolved
Adjective
  • Users reported problems with Outlook, while OpenAI said users may experience problems starting or continuing tasks in ChatGPT Work, temporarily disabling two of the modern office's favorite methods of assigning more work.
    — Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Drew This gender-neutral name is inspired by former Saints quarterback Drew Brees, considered one of the best signal-callers of the modern era.
    — Beth Ann Mayer, Parents, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of modern
Adjective
  • Munetaka Murakami made the quick decision to step on the bag and then throw to the plate, where catcher Drew Romo tagged out Trevor Larnach for an unconventional inning-ending double play.
    — LaMond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2026
  • All the drama from last week’s showdown with the season-21 designers is resolved by season 22 winning the unconventional-materials challenge.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of unconventional
Noun
  • Working at the Kunstgewerbeschule under educational reformer Franz Cžek, Wiener Werkstätte women also designed toys designed to tap into childlike spontaneity.
    — Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 24 Aug. 2026
  • How did Infantino go from progressive reformer, the overseer of newly transparent and accountable FIFA, to the man who literally tried to sell the World Cup?
    — Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of reformer

Browse Nearby Words

progressions
progressive
progressively
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Progressive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/progressive. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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