1
as in setbacks
a change in status for the worse usually temporarily
the scandal caused the president to suffer a dramatic lapse in popularity
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in mistakes
an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy
his slip of the tongue about the mayor's name was an unfortunate lapse
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in cessations
the stopping of a process or activity
wasn't bothered by the lapse of her membership at the health club
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in expires
to come to an end
the contract will lapse at the end of the year unless we renew
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lapses
Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Jan. 2026
But for the Blue Devils to accomplish their season-long goals — to make a second straight Final Four run, especially — their current defensive lapses aren’t sustainable.
—Brendan Marks, New York Times, 11 Jan. 2026
Both lapses fall on coaching, especially the latter, as Cronin has made a career of teaching defense.
—Aaron Heisen, Daily News, 9 Jan. 2026
State officials say the program is a way to reduce costs, prevent medication lapses, and ease the burden on doctors, particularly in rural areas where clinicians are already stretched thin.
—Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 8 Jan. 2026
Philadelphia is prone to offensive lapses, though, so this might not be a blowout.
—Los Angeles Times, 1 Jan. 2026
Residents in those states rely solely on marketplace plans and are more vulnerable to federal funding lapses.
—Cathie Anderson, Sacbee.com, 8 Nov. 2025
The push followed months of scrutiny over safety lapses and near-misses, including the January midair collision near Reagan National Airport that killed 67 people.
—Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 8 Nov. 2025
But missing Curry did not excuse the team’s lapses.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2025
Noun
Stewart visited three county jails in 2024 and found major lapses in medical and mental health care.
—Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Jan. 2026
But for the Blue Devils to accomplish their season-long goals — to make a second straight Final Four run, especially — their current defensive lapses aren’t sustainable.
—Brendan Marks, New York Times, 11 Jan. 2026
Both lapses fall on coaching, especially the latter, as Cronin has made a career of teaching defense.
—Aaron Heisen, Daily News, 9 Jan. 2026
State officials say the program is a way to reduce costs, prevent medication lapses, and ease the burden on doctors, particularly in rural areas where clinicians are already stretched thin.
—Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 8 Jan. 2026
Philadelphia is prone to offensive lapses, though, so this might not be a blowout.
—Los Angeles Times, 1 Jan. 2026
Residents in those states rely solely on marketplace plans and are more vulnerable to federal funding lapses.
—Cathie Anderson, Sacbee.com, 8 Nov. 2025
The push followed months of scrutiny over safety lapses and near-misses, including the January midair collision near Reagan National Airport that killed 67 people.
—Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 8 Nov. 2025
But missing Curry did not excuse the team’s lapses.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lapses
Noun
-
After back-to-back campaigns filled with setbacks, Scott re-signed with the Panthers on a 1-year deal this offseason.—
Mike Kaye
January 8,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Backups Jaylon Moore and Wanya Morris suffered setbacks in subsequent weeks, pushing the Chiefs down to their last options at tackle on the depth chart.—
Jesse Newell,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
In Slow Horses — an adaptation of author Mick Herron's award-winning Slough House series — Oldman, 67, portrays Jackson Lamb, the leader of a dysfunctional team of MI5 agents whose career-ending mistakes landed them an unwanted spot at Slough House.—
Liza Esquibias,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
-
This game was a defensive battle on both sides, as Hurts and Purdy had their fair share of mistakes, though the latter’s showed up in the box score.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Temporary cessations of hostility, but no permanent closing of the moral and social divide between debtor and creditor, and no giving up on the thought that some lives matter more than others.—
Henry Freedland,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The tender offer was extended once and now expires on January 21.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Powell’s term as a governor on the Fed Board expires at the end of January 2028.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
To the contrary, though the film is frequently funny, Brewer takes their ambitions and reversals seriously.—
Peter Tonguette,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Jan. 2026
-
This is the state shifting the financial burden of its own delays and reversals onto the very organizations tasked with delivering public services.—
Kristin Brown,
New York Daily News,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
In other words, some of those 110-year-olds might just be clerical errors.—
Rachel Macpherson,
Outside,
11 Jan. 2026
-
After months of harping on these errors in film study and practices, Kerr finally went to an unconventional method to inspire change.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Conflict in Yemen has prompted air traffic halts — leaving about 600 tourists stranded on a remote island.—
Ashley J. DiMella,
FOXNews.com,
6 Jan. 2026
-
The fact that any soliloquy halts dramatic action also poses a challenge.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
15 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
The team that stops the run and mitigates mistakes will win this one.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Jan. 2026
-
The group stops to talk to one who took a fall while riding his bike in his neighborhood.—
Raven Brunner,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lapses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lapses. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
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