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.
Related Words
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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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of relapses
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
According to the police foundation, the centers have helped cut crime relapses from 85% in 2017 to a current 6%.
—Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 28 Jan. 2026
After one character relapses, Clay is offered the empty room at a group home.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 25 Jan. 2026
Across the squad, only 10 players have not missed a match due to an injury sustained this season (Jude Bellingham and Endrick have both been absent in games due to existing problems/relapses during recovery from these issues).
—Mario Cortegana, New York Times, 17 Dec. 2025
Katie Rife, IndieWire, 25 Jan. 2026
Noun
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
According to the police foundation, the centers have helped cut crime relapses from 85% in 2017 to a current 6%.
—Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 28 Jan. 2026
After one character relapses, Clay is offered the empty room at a group home.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 25 Jan. 2026
Across the squad, only 10 players have not missed a match due to an injury sustained this season (Jude Bellingham and Endrick have both been absent in games due to existing problems/relapses during recovery from these issues).
—Mario Cortegana, New York Times, 17 Dec. 2025
Verb
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
-
The full breakdowns from the Daily Racing Form for the Derby are available free this week and can be found here.—
Neil Greenberg,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
-
Replacement parts are hard to find and the warranty offers minimal coverage in case of breakdowns.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
Farming has always been a challenging endeavor, one that operates at the whim of external forces but with little margin for setbacks.—
The Virginian Pilot And Daily Press Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 May 2026
-
Building codes also pose challenges that can impact sinks and setbacks for fire safety for ovens.—
John W. Bateman,
Chicago Tribune,
3 May 2026
Verb
-
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
-
That baseline held through wars, recessions, assassinations, stagflation, and 9/11.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
3 May 2026
-
As a result, platinum and palladium prices may fall during recessions, while gold often rises as investors seek safety.—
Sharon Wu,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The constant surveillance added its own form of stress, however—without actually reducing crashes.—
Ellen Cushing,
The Atlantic,
3 May 2026
-
In addition to cleaning up the Colorado National Speedway faster after crashes this season, the new owners are trying to get an average of 5,000 hungry and thirsty fans back in their seats faster.—
Denver Post,
Denver Post,
2 May 2026
Noun
-
As the sun's core collapses, its outer layers, where nuclear fusion is still occurring, will puff out to around 100 times the original width of the sun — maybe more.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Marin stuck to her plan of staying close until a moment that changed everything with shocking swiftness — her changing her mind and going for the green on the par-5 13th for a go-ahead birdie, and Talley adding to the sad history of collapses on the back nine at the home of the Masters.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Relapses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/relapses. Accessed 5 May. 2026.
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