Digress vs. Regress — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on September 27, 2023
Digress means to deviate or wander away from a main topic, usually in speech or writing, while regress means to return to a former or less developed state, often referring to behavior, condition, or processes.
Difference Between Digress and Regress
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
Digress and regress, though seemingly related due to the implication of deviation, serve quite different meanings and applications in language. To digress is to wander off the main topic, often in discourse or writing, without necessarily implying a backward movement. It’s about straying from the main subject, often to share unrelated information or details. On the other hand, to regress implies moving backward to a previous, often less developed or primitive state, mostly referring to behaviors, conditions, or developmental stages.
While digression primarily occurs in conversation or writing, regression is often observed in behaviors or states. A speaker might digress from the main topic to share an anecdote or an additional piece of information, possibly making the discourse richer or more varied. However, an individual might regress in behavior, showing signs of less maturity or development, or a process might regress, losing the progress or development previously achieved, often implying a negative connotation.
The context of using digress is generally neutral and might even be enriching, providing additional perspectives or details to the conversation or writing. It’s often temporary and might even be intentional to emphasize or illustrate a point. Regress, however, predominantly carries a negative implication, reflecting a loss or reversal, indicating that a person, condition, or process has moved back to a less favorable or undeveloped state.
In summary, digress relates to deviation in discourse, often enriching or varying the subject matter without implying loss or backward movement. It’s the diversion from the main topic to provide additional, often unrelated, information or details. Regress, however, is about moving backward to a former state, indicating a loss or reversal in development, progress, or condition, generally conveying a negative outcome.
Comparison Chart
Nature
Deviation or wandering from a main topic.
Return to a previous, less developed state.
ADVERTISEMENT
Context of Usage
Conversation, writing, discourse.
Behaviors, conditions, developmental stages.
Implication
Generally neutral, can be enriching.
Predominantly negative, implies loss or reversal.
Field of Usage
Speech, literary works, academic discussions.
Psychology, medicine, developmental studies.
Typical Subject
Topics, subjects, discussions.
Individuals, processes, conditions.
Compare with Definitions
Digress
Digress means to deviate or wander away from the main topic or subject.
I don’t want to digress, but this reminds me of a related experience.
Regress
Regress often implies a negative or undesirable backward movement.
The project seemed to regress due to a lack of resources.
Digress
Digress can refer to straying in speech or writing to share unrelated details.
Let me not digress further and return to the main subject of our discussion.
Regress
Regress is used to denote a loss or reversal in development or progress.
After the trauma, his behavior started to regress.
Digress
Digress can enrich conversation by providing additional perspectives or information.
If I may digress briefly, there’s an interesting anecdote related to this.
Regress
Regress means to return to a former or less developed state or condition.
If we do not practice, our skills will regress over time.
Digress
Digress usually implies a temporary and intentional diversion.
I will digress for a moment to provide some background information.
Regress
Regress can relate to various fields like psychology, medicine, and developmental studies.
In certain conditions, patients may regress to earlier developmental stages.
Digress
Digress is often used to illustrate or emphasize a point in discourse.
To digress a bit, this example perfectly illustrates the concept we are discussing.
Regress
Regress may refer to a reversal in processes, behaviors, or conditions.
With insufficient care, the garden began to regress.
Digress
To stray temporarily from the topic at hand, as in delivering a speech or engaging in a discussion.
Regress
To return to a previous, usually worse or less developed state
When I left the country, my ability to speak the language regressed.
Digress
(intransitive) To step or turn aside; to deviate; to swerve; especially, to turn aside from the main subject of attention, or course of argument, in writing or speaking.
Regress
To have a tendency to approach or go back to a statistical mean.
Digress
(intransitive) To turn aside from the right path; to transgress; to offend.
Regress
To move backward or away from a reference point; recede
The seas regressed as the glaciers grew larger.
Digress
To step or turn aside; to deviate; to swerve; especially, to turn aside from the main subject of attention, or course of argument, in writing or speaking.
Moreover she beginneth to digress in latitude.
In the pursuit of an argument there is hardly room to digress into a particular definition as often as a man varies the signification of any term.
Regress
To induce a state of regression in
Techniques to regress a patient under hypnosis.
Digress
To turn aside from the right path; to transgress; to offend.
Thy abundant goodness shall excuseThis deadly blot on thy digressing son.
Regress
The act of regressing, especially the returning to a previous, usually worse or less developed state.
Digress
Digression.
Regress
The act of reasoning backward from an effect to a cause or of continually applying a process of reasoning to its own results.
Digress
Lose clarity or turn aside especially from the main subject of attention or course of argument in writing, thinking, or speaking;
She always digresses when telling a story
Her mind wanders
Don't digress when you give a lecture
Regress
The act of passing back; passage back; return; retrogression.
Digress
Wander from a direct or straight course
Regress
The power or liberty of passing back.
Regress
In property law, the right of a person (such as a lessee) to return to a property.
Regress
(intransitive) To move backwards to an earlier stage; to devolve.
Regress
To move from east to west.en
Regress
To reduce in severity or size (as of a tumor), without reaching total remission.
Regress
To perform a regression on an explanatory variable.
When we regress Y on X, we use the values of variable X to predict those of Y.
Regress
(transitive) To interrogate a person in a state of trance about forgotten elements of their past.
Regress
The act of passing back; passage back; return; retrogression. "The progress or regress of man".
Regress
The power or liberty of passing back.
Regress
To go back; to return to a former place or state.
Regress
The reasoning involved when you assume the conclusion is true and reason backward to the evidence
Regress
Returning to a former state
Regress
Go back to a statistical means
Regress
Go back to a previous state;
We reverted to the old rules
Regress
Get worse; fall back to a previous or worse condition
Regress
Go back to bad behavior;
Those who recidivate are often minor criminals
Common Curiosities
What does it mean to digress?
To digress means to deviate or wander away from the main topic or subject, usually in speech or writing.
What is implied by regress?
Regress implies a return to a former or less developed state, condition, or behavior, often conveying a negative implication.
Is digress typically neutral or negative in implication?
Digress is generally neutral in implication and can even be enriching, providing additional information or perspectives.
Is regression observed in behaviors and developmental stages?
Yes, regression is often observed in behaviors, conditions, or developmental stages, indicating a return to a less developed state.
Does regress typically convey a loss or reversal?
Yes, regress typically conveys a loss or reversal in development, progress, or condition, often implying negativity.
Can digression occur in conversation and writing?
Absolutely, digression primarily occurs in conversation or writing, where one deviates from the main topic to share additional details or anecdotes.
Can digression be intentional and temporary?
Yes, digression can often be intentional and is usually a temporary deviation from the main subject to emphasize or illustrate a point.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Keepsake vs. Token
Next Comparison
Place vs. SquareAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
