relapse 1 of 2

Definition of relapsenext

relapse

2 of 2

verb

as in to revert
to return to a usually worse state or condition After a few good months of keeping their rooms clean, the kids relapsed into their old untidy habits.

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 relapse
Noun
Meanwhile another trial that was double-blind examined the use of ibogaine for reducing cocaine cravings and found fewer relapses in the drug group compared with the placebo group. Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 24 Apr. 2026 Patients taking fenebrutinib suffered a relapse roughly every 17 years compared to an older treatment, according to data presented at the American Academy of Neurology annual meeting in Chicago. Fabienne Kinzelmann, Bloomberg, 21 Apr. 2026
Verb
The other two have a more common form of MS, called relapsing MS. Kaitlin Sullivan, NBC news, 15 Mar. 2026 In reality, lupus tends to follow a relapsing-remitting pattern. Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 13 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for relapse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for relapse
Noun
  • Meta is lingering around the 150-day moving average, and, having recently fallen below it, this reversion may be a head fake.
    Michael Khouw, CNBC, 28 Apr. 2026
  • The situation is one of ideological ferment, rather than a reversion to some Romneyite center.
    Amy Davidson Sorkin, New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Technically the state could revert back to its original 2022 map with one majority-Black district or redraw a new map entirely.
    Oren Oppenheim, ABC News, 30 Apr. 2026
  • Heating can temporarily fix this, but the structure tends to revert after cooling.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 30 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • That breakdown was not available in the CRA filings, and the foundation said the final net figures can fall between 8% and 10% of total raffle revenue.
    Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 30 Apr. 2026
  • About Route 66 Extended Warranty Route 66 offers three extended warranty plans to financially help car owners when a mechanical breakdown occurs.
    Anna Popp, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Or to some shaky American accents that keep lapsing.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 28 Apr. 2026
  • That means insurance coverage would not lapse even if parents miss a monthly premium payment.
    Daniel Chang, Miami Herald, 27 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Later that year, Newsom announced the second round, which included projects to help the Finance Department more efficiently analyze legislation and assist the Labor and Workforce Development Agency to more accurately predict when a recession will occur.
    William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 1 May 2026
  • At distances of billions of light-years, this corresponds to recession speeds that approach the speed of light, and for the most distant galaxies of all, like MoM-z14, speeds that even exceed it.
    Big Think, Big Think, 1 May 2026
Noun
  • Despite these setbacks, the condo and townhome segment demonstrated resilience, with average prices rising 9% to nearly $944,000.
    Sara B. Hansen, Denver Post, 2 May 2026
  • The project has faced several setbacks.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 May 2026
Noun
  • William Cruz, 49, of Carteret, NJ, was charged with failure to yield to a pedestrian causing injury and failure to exercise due care for the fatal crash that claimed Jenny Maribel Chacho Sanchez on April 17.
    Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 30 Apr. 2026
  • The corridor, from Del Paso Boulevard to the Steelhead Creek trail crossing, is among the five in Sacramento with the highest numbers of fatal and serious crashes.
    Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 29 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The episode ends with Teddy getting a voicemail from Owen and overhearing a bridge collapse and car crash that may be fatal.
    Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 1 May 2026
  • An epic collapse in Game 3 put them on the back foot.
    David Troy, FOXNews.com, 1 May 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Relapse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/relapse. Accessed 6 May. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on relapse

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster