RELAPSE Synonyms: 58 Similar and Opposite Words

relapse 1 of 2

noun

as in reversion

the act or an instance of returning to a usually worse state or condition She discussed some ways to help avoid a relapse after quitting smoking. After a long period of cancer remission, he suffered a relapse.

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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.

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Examples of relapse in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Sheen and Mueller share joint legal and physical custody of the twins, but in January, he was granted an emergency order that affirmed that should Mueller test positive for drugs and alcohol or otherwise relapse, he will be granted sole custody. —

Julia Moore, Peoplemag, 31 July 2024 Studies show that the relapse rate in the first year post-treatment is alarmingly high, with 85% of individuals returning to substance use within that time frame. —

Tyler Shepherd, USA TODAY, 11 Sep. 2024

Verb

While springtime is the worst allergy season in Phoenix, typically peaking in March through May, some allergy sufferers will relapse in the fall. —

Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 21 Sep. 2024 These medications prevent withdrawal symptoms, manage cravings for opioids and lower the risk of overdose if someone relapses. —

Margaret Lowenstein, The Conversation, 12 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for relapse

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'relapse.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.