1
as in setback
a change in status for the worse usually temporarily
the scandal caused the president to suffer a dramatic lapse in popularity
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in mistake
an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy
his slip of the tongue about the mayor's name was an unfortunate lapse
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in cessation
the stopping of a process or activity
wasn't bothered by the lapse of her membership at the health club
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to expire
to come to an end
the contract will lapse at the end of the year unless we renew
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lapse
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
17 June 2026
The drums and shaker keep their mechanized pace, but the electronics constantly brighten and fade like flowers blooming in time lapse.
—
Dash Lewis,
Pitchfork,
16 June 2026
Lisa Hagen,
Hartford Courant,
12 June 2026
House Democrats helped tank the legislation in a 198-218 vote, virtually guaranteeing the program will lapse on Friday at midnight.
—
Mabinty Quarshie,
The Washington Examiner,
11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for lapse
Noun
Now, other vice presidents have become president by means of election after a lapse.
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David Frum,
The Atlantic,
17 June 2026
The drums and shaker keep their mechanized pace, but the electronics constantly brighten and fade like flowers blooming in time lapse.
—
Dash Lewis,
Pitchfork,
16 June 2026
Verb
Connecticut’s congressional delegation, including House Intelligence Committee ranking member Jim Himes, on Thursday opposed a short-term extension of a controversial surveillance law, which looks likely to lapse at the end of the week.
—
Lisa Hagen,
Hartford Courant,
12 June 2026
House Democrats helped tank the legislation in a 198-218 vote, virtually guaranteeing the program will lapse on Friday at midnight.
—
Mabinty Quarshie,
The Washington Examiner,
11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for lapse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lapse
Noun
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The shaky outing continued Sasaki’s post-breakthrough slide, but the setback barely dents the Dodgers’ commanding division cushion, with San Diego still eight games back in the standings.
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From the moment the gates slide open, the unusually deep setback—a rarity in Beverly Hills—choreographs an arrival sequence more commonly associated with boutique resorts than private homes.
Noun
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The Dodgers took full advantage of the Padres’ defensive mistakes to jump-start their offense.
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Bad luck happens, but preventable mistakes almost always cause road problems.
Noun
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Starting an exercise program, eating better, smoking cessation -- these are all examples of behaviors that require serious commitment to implement and maintain.
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Tehran insists that the deal’s implementation start with a cessation of all fighting — including between Israel and Hezbollah.
Verb
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Picking the right spots will become as important as ever, especially as more legacy contracts expire.
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The California Children’s Education and Health Care Protection Act of 2026 would indefinitely extend an existing tax on couples who make above $680,000 and individuals who make above $340,000 that’s currently set to expire in 2030.
Noun
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The reversal was driven largely by Claude Code, Anthropic’s autonomous coding tool.
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The official said the demand to dismantle Black Economic Empowerment policies was viewed internally as a direct reversal of commitments made to South Africans who fought against apartheid.
Noun
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With Yerry De los Santos also fumbling a bunt in the eighth, the Yanks tallied a season-high four errors on the night.
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Michael Conforto, Alex Bregman and Ian Happ had RBI hits in the sixth, when the Cubs’ runs were unearned thanks to a pair of errors.
Noun
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South Korea's Kospi closed down almost 6%, a rout that sparked a 20-minute trading halt, after a volatile week for chip giant and market heavyweight SK hynix, whose share price shed more than eight percent Friday.
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The lawsuit also asks for a halt to all new fossil fuel projects.
Verb
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Kylee and Aven left Bachelor in Paradise in a relationship but without an engagement, though their romance ended shortly after the season finale aired.
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The dismissal of the arson charge does not end the criminal case against Hobby.
Cite this Entry
“Lapse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lapse. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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