LAPSES Synonyms: 158 Similar and Opposite Words

lapses 1 of 2

noun

plural of lapse

as in setbacks

a change in status for the worse usually temporarily the scandal caused the president to suffer a dramatic lapse in popularity

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Relevance

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status quos

as in mistakes

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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as in cessations

the stopping of a process or activity wasn't bothered by the lapse of her membership at the health club

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lapses

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of lapse

as in expires

to come to an end the contract will lapse at the end of the year unless we renew

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Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of lapses

Noun

Top officials at agencies under the DHS umbrella spoke for more than three-hours before the House Homeland Security Committee about the potential risks of security lapses unless the partial government shutdown comes to an end. —

Lisa Mascaro, Arkansas Online, 26 Mar. 2026 Those reports revealed lapses in communication between the state agencies taking criminal complaints and the agency maintaining those licenses. —

Tara Molina, CBS News, 26 Mar. 2026 Top officials at agencies under the DHS umbrella spoke for more than three-hours before the House Homeland Security Committee about the potential risks of security lapses unless the partial government shutdown comes to an end. —

Kevin Freking, Chicago Tribune, 25 Mar. 2026 Top officials at agencies under the Homeland Security umbrella spoke for more than three hours before the House Homeland Security Committee about the potential risks of security lapses unless the partial government shutdown comes to an end. —

Lisa Mascaro, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2026 During an appeal last year of his indictment by a Haitian investigative judge, Badio accused Haiti’s judicial police of missing security lapses in the president’s detail. —

Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 24 Mar. 2026 The decision of who is deemed essential and nonessential, for example, depends on department personnel, while salary appropriations can be impacted by lapses in the congressional budget, which occur multiple times a year. —

Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 24 Mar. 2026 What’s ahead for TSA agents The partial government shutdown is among three lapses in funding resulting in missed pay for TSA staff over the past six months, shortly following the historic 43-day shutdown late last year and a brief lapse in January. —

Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 22 Mar. 2026 Trucking company lacked safety measures The findings point to a broader cascade of regulatory failures and safety lapses — by the state, the driver and his employer — that investigators say may have contributed to the crash. —

Alex Driggars, Austin American Statesman, 20 Mar. 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

Of those seven losses, setbacks against Dallas and Chicago (while both were still trying to win) and Milwaukee could at least be rationalized.

— Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 30 Mar. 2026
Despite these very public setbacks, the U-2 became a hidden success story and a major player during the Cold War.

— David Szondy March 29, New Atlas, 29 Mar. 2026