as in reversion
the act or an instance of returning to a usually worse state or condition
She discussed some ways to help avoid a relapse after quitting smoking. After a long period of cancer remission, he suffered a relapse.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
as in to revert
to return to a usually worse state or condition
After a few good months of keeping their rooms clean, the kids relapsed into their old untidy habits.
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of relapse
Rhitu Chatterjee, NPR, 7 May 2026
But the signs of relapse were evident in recent years.
—Levi Weaver, New York Times, 6 May 2026
Grace Gavilanes, PEOPLE, 30 Apr. 2026
Delonte West’s Recent String of Arrests West has rebounded and relapsed several times since then.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for relapse
Noun
For many individuals, such medications reduce symptoms, improve functioning, prevent relapse, and support recovery.
—Rhitu Chatterjee, NPR, 7 May 2026
But the signs of relapse were evident in recent years.
—Levi Weaver, New York Times, 6 May 2026
Verb
However, in 2025, Hadid appeared to have relapsed, posting photos of herself in a hospital bed.
—Grace Gavilanes, PEOPLE, 30 Apr. 2026
Delonte West’s Recent String of Arrests West has rebounded and relapsed several times since then.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for relapse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for relapse
Noun
-
The stock is finally starting to claw its way back, creating an ideal scenario for a mean reversion play.—
Nishant Pant,
CNBC,
12 May 2026
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The situation is one of ideological ferment, rather than a reversion to some Romneyite center.—
Amy Davidson Sorkin,
New Yorker,
18 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Rulings against the map could revert Kansas City’s congressional district back to the boundaries lawmakers approved in 2022, easing a path for Cleaver to win a 12th term in Congress.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
10 May 2026
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Technically the state could revert back to its original 2022 map with one majority-Black district or redraw a new map entirely.—
Oren Oppenheim,
ABC News,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
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According to spending breakdowns from the California Department of Education, administrative salaries account for a single‑digit share of K–12 education spending statewide.—
James Ward,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
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And that breakdown can affect facial structure.—
Kathleen Ferraro,
Verywell Health,
14 May 2026
Verb
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But the temporary restraining order later lapsed, allowing Moreno access to the baby shortly before the child’s death.—
Christina Coulter,
PEOPLE,
8 May 2026
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But federal lawmakers have recently noted people picked up by Immigration and Customs Enforcement after their DACA lapsed.—
Hallie Golden,
Los Angeles Times,
2 May 2026
Noun
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What the critics say But the economy’s roaring comeback from the pandemic recession didn’t come without a hitch.—
Bryan Mena,
CNN Money,
15 May 2026
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In this context, a recession would be a disaster, Slok says.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
14 May 2026
Noun
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Consequently, any push for digital sovereignty that affects a large number of employees must be prepared to deal with setbacks and pushback.—
Kevin Korte,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
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The lawsuit presents one of the few setbacks the project could face, after DeSantis signed a bill last year that aimed to preempt local governments from enacting or enforcing regulations against presidential libraries.—
Claire Heddles,
Miami Herald,
15 May 2026
Noun
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Drugs or alcohol do not appear to be factors in the crash, police said.—
Caleb Lunetta,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 May 2026
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The outlet reported three people suffered injuries in the crash.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
14 May 2026
Noun
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The collapse of the government is unlikely to significantly affect Latvia’s foreign policy, as all mainstream parties are some variant of pro-Ukraine and anti-Russia.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
15 May 2026
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This explains why companies did not experience a commercial-traffic collapse.—
Ming Zhu,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Relapse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/relapse. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
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