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Progressive vs Gradual - What's the difference?

progressive | gradual |

As adjectives the difference between progressive and gradual

is that progressive is favouring or promoting progress; advanced while gradual is proceeding by steps or small degrees; advancing step by step, as in ascent or descent or from one state to another; regularly progressive; slow.

As nouns the difference between progressive and gradual

is that progressive is a person who actively favors or strives for progress towards improved conditions, as in society or government while gradual is an antiphon or responsory after the epistle, in the Mass, which was sung on the steps, or while the deacon ascended the steps.

progressive

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Favouring or promoting progress; advanced.
  • Gradually advancing in extent; increasing.
  • Promoting or favoring progress towards improved conditions or new policies, ideas or methods.
    • a progressive politician
    progressive business leadership
  • Of or relating to progressive education.
    • a progressive school
  • (of an income tax or other tax) Increasing in rate as the taxable amount increases.
  • Advancing in severity.
    • progressive paralysis
  • liberal (politically)
  • (grammar) continuous

    • Antonyms

    * regressive * (advancing in severity) non-progressive * conservative

    Derived terms

    * progressive euchre * progressiveness * progressivism * progressivity

    Related terms

    * progress

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A person who actively favors or strives for progress towards improved conditions, as in society or government.
  • (grammar) A progressive verb.

    • Derived terms

    * future perfect progressive * future progressive * past perfect progressive * past progressive * present perfect progressive * present progressive

    gradual

    English

    Alternative forms

    * graduall (obsolete)

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Proceeding by steps or small degrees; advancing step by step, as in ascent or descent or from one state to another; regularly progressive; slow.
    • a gradual''' increase of knowledge; a '''gradual decline
  • * Milton
    • Creatures animate with gradual life / Of growth, sense, reason, all summed up in man.

    Synonyms

    * (l)

    Antonyms

    * sudden * abrupt

    Derived terms

    * gradually

    See also

    * (l)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (Roman Catholic Church) An antiphon or responsory after the epistle, in the Mass, which was sung on the steps, or while the deacon ascended the steps.
  • (Roman Catholic Church) A service book containing the musical portions of the Mass.