as in breakdowns
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.
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Dissimilar Words
as in reverts
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.
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Dissimilar Words
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Recent Examples of relapses
Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 17 May 2026
Her therapist’s harm-reduction tactics helped at times, but the relapses kept coming.
—Lev Facher, STAT, 14 May 2026
Using her blog, social media and strategically shot selfies, Amanda claimed to be battling Hodgkin's lymphoma, alternating between remission and relapses at least four times from 2012 to 2016.
—Jessica Sager, PEOPLE, 12 May 2026
Meanwhile another trial that was double-blind examined the use of ibogaine for reducing cocaine cravings and found fewer relapses in the drug group compared with the placebo group.
—Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 24 Apr. 2026
That lasts for at least five years for about half of all people with Crohn's who are treated properly, according to the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation, though occasional relapses are not unusual.
—Korin Miller, SELF, 31 Mar. 2026
Studies show that adults with anxiety and untreated ADHD suffer greater functional impairment and more frequent relapses, meaning their severe anxiety or depressive episodes keep returning despite therapy or medication.
—Deldhy Nicolás Moya Sánchez, The Conversation, 16 Mar. 2026
In these cases, people have unpredictable attacks and temporary relapses followed by a period of recovery.
—Kaitlin Sullivan, NBC news, 15 Mar. 2026
Throughout college, Reid’s medications provided fleeting relief, followed by relapses that left her bedridden at home.
—Jason Liebowitz, New Yorker, 6 Mar. 2026
Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 10 June 2026
The story takes quite a few turns, like when the father of Margo’s child and Margo’s former English professor, Mark Gable (Michael Angarano), challenges her for custody of baby Bodhi and when her father tragically relapses into drug addiction towards the end of Season 1.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 13 May 2026
Cody and Jack’s sister Katrina (Emily Meade) is barely mentioned until Cody relapses and breaks into her house to pass out on her couch.
—Katie Rife, IndieWire, 25 Jan. 2026
Noun
Also inexplicable is the movie’s setting circa the dawn of COVID, where masks and quarantine come into play — though for many out there, that was surely a time when relapses were around the bend, the temptation of a bender without judgment and out of view very easily had.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 17 May 2026
Her therapist’s harm-reduction tactics helped at times, but the relapses kept coming.
—Lev Facher, STAT, 14 May 2026
Using her blog, social media and strategically shot selfies, Amanda claimed to be battling Hodgkin's lymphoma, alternating between remission and relapses at least four times from 2012 to 2016.
—Jessica Sager, PEOPLE, 12 May 2026
Meanwhile another trial that was double-blind examined the use of ibogaine for reducing cocaine cravings and found fewer relapses in the drug group compared with the placebo group.
—Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 24 Apr. 2026
That lasts for at least five years for about half of all people with Crohn's who are treated properly, according to the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation, though occasional relapses are not unusual.
—Korin Miller, SELF, 31 Mar. 2026
Studies show that adults with anxiety and untreated ADHD suffer greater functional impairment and more frequent relapses, meaning their severe anxiety or depressive episodes keep returning despite therapy or medication.
—Deldhy Nicolás Moya Sánchez, The Conversation, 16 Mar. 2026
In these cases, people have unpredictable attacks and temporary relapses followed by a period of recovery.
—Kaitlin Sullivan, NBC news, 15 Mar. 2026
Throughout college, Reid’s medications provided fleeting relief, followed by relapses that left her bedridden at home.
—Jason Liebowitz, New Yorker, 6 Mar. 2026
Verb
Towards the end of the season, Chris relapses and starts using again, leading to a car crash that leaves him maimed, giving Tony no other option but to whack his underling.
—Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 10 June 2026
The story takes quite a few turns, like when the father of Margo’s child and Margo’s former English professor, Mark Gable (Michael Angarano), challenges her for custody of baby Bodhi and when her father tragically relapses into drug addiction towards the end of Season 1.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 13 May 2026
Cody and Jack’s sister Katrina (Emily Meade) is barely mentioned until Cody relapses and breaks into her house to pass out on her couch.
—Katie Rife, IndieWire, 25 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for relapses
Noun
-
Who spots problems early, manages risk quietly, and improves workflows so that breakdowns don’t happen?—
Paula Davis,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
-
However, recurring breakdowns, major component failures and advanced system age can shift the equation toward replacement.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
9 June 2026
Verb
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There are still times Stokes reverts back to his worst tendencies on the basketball court.—
Lindsay Schnell,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Democrats currently hold a 6-5 edge, and the new map will hold until the process reverts back to a bipartisan redistricting commission after the 2030 Census.—
Julia Mueller,
The Hill,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Moscow’s efforts to recruit students for its own expert drone units have been mired in distrust and setbacks, according to Stepanenko, after Russia’s Ministry of Defense committed some drone operators to frontline ground assaults.—
Lauren Kent,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
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That aside, there has been precious little obvious progress and some notable setbacks.—
Anand Menon,
Time,
13 June 2026
Verb
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That could — when the policy lapses ― expose taxpayers to additional risk.—
Frank Witsil,
Freep.com,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Watch for and prune out any reversions, which are individual shoots lacking variegation.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
8 Feb. 2026
-
But there are a wide range of both broken skills and weapons (go try out Sturm), and some promised updates or nerf reversions don’t seem to have happened at all.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The city has endured fiscal crises, blackouts, crime waves, terrorist attacks, recessions and a pandemic.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
13 June 2026
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The problem was caused by a mix of high inflation, weak wage growth, the recessions of the 1970s and early 1980s, and mounting demographic pressure.—
John W. Diamond,
Fortune,
12 June 2026
Noun
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Investigation underway The Kentucky State Police is continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding both crashes and the events that led to Suresh entering the roadway.—
Anthony Thompson,
USA Today,
14 June 2026
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The toll lanes would address congestion and crashes, NCDOT said.—
Nicholas Sullivan,
Charlotte Observer,
13 June 2026
Noun
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Blowing leads is becoming a recurring trend for Clark's squad, which has suffered similar collapses against the Washington Mystics and Golden State Valkyries this season.—
Jackson Thompson OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
7 June 2026
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Is there a way the Tigers can reconfigure their roster in hopes of avoiding collapses like this season’s (and last season’s) in the future?—
Cody Stavenhagen,
New York Times,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Relapses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/relapses. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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