backsliding 1 of 2

adjective

as in unfaithful

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Dissimilar Words

backsliding

2 of 2

verb

present participle of backslide
as in relapsing

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Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for backsliding
  1. unfaithful
  2. relapsing
  3. secular
  4. lapsing
  5. sinful
  6. regressing
  7. worldly
  8. reverting
Adjective
  • In other words, some hallucinated or unfaithful answers originate before generation.
    — Patrick Dajos, Forbes.com, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Patrick testified and found himself at the center of an online swarm of sleuths and influencers dissecting every detail of the case, developing theories that portray him as uncaring, unfaithful and even the murderer of his children.
    — Ross Douthat, CBS News, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of unfaithful
Verb
  • Chris wound up relapsing and tragically dying from a fentanyl overdose in 2018.
    — David Manheim, Rolling Stone, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Shepard has also been open about relapsing over the years, most recently in 2020.
    — Emma Banks, PEOPLE, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of relapsing
Adjective
  • Unsurprisingly, Mihai and Lisbet begin to wonder whether they are being tried for child abuse or for their refusal to assimilate the progressive, secular-humanist values of their new home country—in other words, for their Christianity.
    — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Fox News is grappling with many of the same secular trends as its competitors.
    — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of secular
Verb
  • But with La Liga’s champions now signing fellow England wide man Anthony Gordon from Newcastle, and Rashford’s £40million release clause for other teams lapsing last week, a new set of negotiations will be required for his exit.
    — Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 21 July 2026
  • The White House referred questions about the executive order lapsing to the Treasury Department.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 July 2026
Definition of lapsing
Adjective
  • Judaism teaches that human beings are not inherently sinful, destructive or a detriment to the world.
    — Meir Moscowitz, Chicago Tribune, 7 Sep. 2026
  • My prescribed low-carb, caffeine-free diet sounded horrifying on paper, but my sinful pleasures were replaced with a tasty, high-quality, and healthy alternative that left me more energized.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 July 2026
Definition of sinful
Verb
  • On the other side, the Los Angeles Chargers (0-4) look like they’re headed to a lost season and quarterback Justin Herbert is regressing.
    — Jeff Howe, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026
  • The cumulative effect of regressing academically every summer means kids are starting off every school year in a deficit, as previously mentioned.
    — Sherri Gordon, Parents, 7 July 2026
Definition of regressing
Adjective
  • The lounge is a real scene, especially during afternoon tea, when a perfectly coiffed crowd has hushed discussions about worldly matters.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The pair have just been evicted from their apartment, coming home from church to find all of their worldly possessions on the stairs.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of worldly
Verb
  • The notorious property has since undergone a name change, reverting back to its original moniker of Sycamore Valley Ranch.
    — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 24 Sep. 2026
  • The exact process for reverting adult cells back to an early embryonic stage, however, wasn’t clear.
    — Venki Ramakrishnan, Scientific American, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of reverting
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

backslides
backsliding
backs off
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Cite this Entry

“Backsliding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backsliding. Accessed 15 Oct. 2026.

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