1
: the act or an instance of backsliding, worsening, or subsiding
2
: a recurrence of symptoms of a disease after a period of improvement
relapsed; relapsing
1
: to slip or fall back into a former worse state
relapser
noun
Examples of relapse in a Sentence
Noun
Everyone thought she was well until a sudden relapse sent her back to the hospital.
a drug addict who has had a relapse
a drug addict who has a history of relapse
Verb
If you don't continue your treatment, you could relapse.
Malaria can relapse years after the original infection.
The country soon relapsed into chaos.
She stayed out of trouble for a long time, but then she relapsed into her old ways.
Recent Examples on the Web
Chicago Tribune, 24 May 2026
The stakes are high for the custody battle after child protective services (CPS) gets called on Margo following Jinx’s drug relapse in Episode 7.
—Matt Minton, Variety, 20 May 2026
Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 25 May 2026
After six months of chemotherapy, the Colorado native entered remission in March 2024, only to relapse later that year and begin another grueling round of treatment that ultimately led to a stem cell transplant on March 10, 2025.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 23 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for relapse
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Noun
Chicago Preventing relapse after treatment Illinois continues confronting rising behavioral health demands while state and federal policymakers debate Medicaid eligibility rules, work requirements and spending reductions.
—Chicago Tribune, 24 May 2026
The stakes are high for the custody battle after child protective services (CPS) gets called on Margo following Jinx’s drug relapse in Episode 7.
—Matt Minton, Variety, 20 May 2026
Verb
Scientists believe neuroinflammation may contribute to relapse risk and long-term neurological damage in people with alcohol use disorder.
—Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 25 May 2026
After six months of chemotherapy, the Colorado native entered remission in March 2024, only to relapse later that year and begin another grueling round of treatment that ultimately led to a stem cell transplant on March 10, 2025.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 23 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for relapse
Cite this Entry
“Relapse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/relapse. Accessed 26 May. 2026.
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Medical Definition
: a recurrence of illness
especially
: a recurrence of symptoms of a disease after a period of improvement
a relapse after an 18-month remission —M. T. Fosburg et al.
compare recrudescence
M. T. Fosburg et al. relapse
2 of 2 intransitive verb
re·lapse
ri-ˈlaps 
relapsed; relapsing
: to slip or fall back into a former worse state (as of illness) after a change for the better
the patient relapsed twice in four years
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