BACKSLIDES Synonyms: 34 Similar and Opposite Words

backslides 1 of 2

noun

plural of backslide

as in relapses

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

backslides

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of backslide

as in lapses

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for backslides

Noun

Some people experience a rollercoaster of relapses and remissions; others see the disease steadily progress, eventually leading to serious disability.

— Dylan Scott, Vox, 21 Oct. 2026
Other medications are used to treat acute relapses or manage symptoms such as fatigue, walking difficulties, spasticity and bladder problems.

— Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of relapses

Verb

Rather than imagine the ways these characters might have evolved over nearly 30 years, the script by Akiva Goldsman, Georgia Pritchett, and Kelly Marcel regresses the women in order to retread many of the beats of the original film.

— Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2026
The immortal being who’d called himself a god just moments prior regresses into his stuttering, childhood self.

— Hannah Giorgis Yohannes, Vanity Fair, 13 July 2026

Definition of regresses

Verb

The decision reverts Missouri’s congressional map to what was used in 2022 and 2024 until voters approve or reject the new map in November.

— Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 16 Oct. 2026
The lease limits what can be built on the site and once the agreement is complete, ownership reverts back to the Spanglers.

— Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of reverts

Verb

As Holmes serves time in federal prison, the actress returns as her literal double in reenactments and conversations, first haunting the San Diego beach house, then Evans’ new residence in Texas — even interacting with the couple’s kids.

— Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 19 Oct. 2026
The Home button returns you to the home screen, and the Location button opens a screen that displays your service address (home) and your current location.

— John R. Delaney, PC Magazine, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of returns

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.

Browse Nearby Words

backsliders

backslides

backsliding

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Backslides.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backslides. Accessed 23 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of backslides

noun

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

asunder

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Oct. 23

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes