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
Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 17 Apr. 2026
Similar lapses are likely to occur in the PCQ transition as well.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 17 Apr. 2026
The Herald stories showed DCF adult protection caseworkers are sending elders in their custody to homes that the Agency for Health Care Administration inspectors have cited for numerous violations, including serious lapses in care.
—Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2026
Montreal and Ottawa are making a second straight appearance following lengthy postseason lapses.
—John Wawrow, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 Apr. 2026
The cracks first appeared during campus protests over the war in Gaza, throwing the leadership lapses and internal tensions of colleges and universities into clear view.
—Jake Angelo, Fortune, 16 Apr. 2026
Kilitch Healthcare had serious quality lapses, in which the facility was filthy, employees were barefoot on the manufacturing floor and the company fraudulently passed products that failed sterility tests.
—C. Michael White, CNN Money, 15 Apr. 2026
Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) lapses April 20—just days from now.
—Patrick Eddington, Oc Register, 15 Apr. 2026
Honest mistakes and statements made from lapses of memory are not lies.
—Robert B. Talisse, The Conversation, 10 Apr. 2026
Frank Witsil, Freep.com, 13 Feb. 2026
Noun
The Hawks will test the Knicks’ defense at all three levels, beginning with the 3-point line, hunting treys in transition, where the Knicks have been susceptible to lapses this season.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 17 Apr. 2026
Similar lapses are likely to occur in the PCQ transition as well.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 17 Apr. 2026
The Herald stories showed DCF adult protection caseworkers are sending elders in their custody to homes that the Agency for Health Care Administration inspectors have cited for numerous violations, including serious lapses in care.
—Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2026
Montreal and Ottawa are making a second straight appearance following lengthy postseason lapses.
—John Wawrow, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 Apr. 2026
The cracks first appeared during campus protests over the war in Gaza, throwing the leadership lapses and internal tensions of colleges and universities into clear view.
—Jake Angelo, Fortune, 16 Apr. 2026
Kilitch Healthcare had serious quality lapses, in which the facility was filthy, employees were barefoot on the manufacturing floor and the company fraudulently passed products that failed sterility tests.
—C. Michael White, CNN Money, 15 Apr. 2026
Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) lapses April 20—just days from now.
—Patrick Eddington, Oc Register, 15 Apr. 2026
Honest mistakes and statements made from lapses of memory are not lies.
—Robert B. Talisse, The Conversation, 10 Apr. 2026
Verb
That could — when the policy lapses ― expose taxpayers to additional risk.
—Frank Witsil, Freep.com, 13 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lapses
Noun
-
While China is poised to be at the forefront of development, this year’s half-marathon event was not without its setbacks.—
Janis Mackey Frayer,
NBC news,
19 Apr. 2026
-
Barring any setbacks, Yates could make his season debut for the Angels later this month.—
Doug Padilla,
Oc Register,
18 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Defensively, Lindor keeps making uncharacteristic mental mistakes, and the Mets don’t seem to have an answer for those either.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Ludvig Aberg swapped out some sloppy mistakes at the Masters with pure iron play at Harbour Town in warm, swirling wind that produced an 8-under 63 for a one-shot lead Thursday in the RBC Heritage.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 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
-
Shares fell 9% in extended trading on Thursday after the streaming giant released its first-quarter earnings report and announced that Reed Hastings, Netflix's co-founder and current chairman, would exit the board in June when his term expires.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
17 Apr. 2026
-
The streamer on Thursday announced that its co-founder and chairman would relinquish his spot on the Netflix board in June, when his current term expires.—
Andrew Nusca,
Fortune,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The reversals have been dramatic, too, and have occurred almost immediately.—
Thomas Drance,
New York Times,
15 Apr. 2026
-
To be sure, hope has often swung quickly into doubt since the war began, causing extreme and sudden reversals in financial markets.—
Stan Choe,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Arize tests and monitors RAG pipelines as well as the agents and applications built on them—debugging and hunting down errors and hallucinations.—
Erik German,
Fortune,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Marlins catcher Agustín Ramírez and first baseman Connor Norby made errors, raising Miami's NL-high total to 15 in 15 games.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Former leaders warn that the loss of institutional knowledge, combined with halts to the incoming pipeline of public health workers, may lead to a long-term crisis.—
Pien Huang,
NPR,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Automotive industry analysts are forecasting that another microchip shortage could hit in the coming months, which could increase risks for production halts as costs skyrocket.—
Breana Noble,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Once the larger transfer is sent, the account suddenly stops responding.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
20 Apr. 2026
-
The grinder is operated with one touch and automatically stops when your grounds are ready to go.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lapses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lapses. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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