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
Relevance
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.
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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 relapses
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
In the 36 years since then, she’s been on six different treatments and — despite multiple relapses with symptoms ranging from blurred vision to migraines and memory loss — has enjoyed a peripatetic life with Fox, traveling around the country and the world and cherishing every moment together.
—Andrew Abrahams, PEOPLE, 11 Dec. 2025
Katie Rife, IndieWire, 25 Jan. 2026
Noun
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
In the 36 years since then, she’s been on six different treatments and — despite multiple relapses with symptoms ranging from blurred vision to migraines and memory loss — has enjoyed a peripatetic life with Fox, traveling around the country and the world and cherishing every moment together.
—Andrew Abrahams, PEOPLE, 11 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
-
Replacement parts are hard to find and the warranty offers minimal coverage in case of breakdowns.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
The scorecard will consist of things like on-time, arrival, breakdowns, latenesses and vintage of the bus, the deputy chancellor said.—
Cayla Bamberger,
New York Daily News,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
How about 162 games — with just two left before the win-loss column reverts back to 0-0 for the playoffs.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
10 Apr. 2026
-
But Indiana's growth is projected to slow significantly in the coming decades as natural increase — births outnumbering deaths — gradually reverts into natural decrease.—
Jordan Smith,
IndyStar,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Our own editors have run the gamut of unexpected setbacks abroad, including getting mugged and pickpocketed, as well as having their passports stolen.—
Michelle Baricevic,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Apr. 2026
-
To combat such setbacks, the Vacaville Islamic Center would probably have to pursue a federal lawsuit — a daunting prospect for an immigrant-heavy congregation with limited resources.—
Connor Letourneau,
San Francisco Chronicle,
11 Apr. 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
-
Energy shocks in the 1970s were associated with global recessions and persistent inflationary pressures.—
Jim Edwards,
Fortune,
10 Apr. 2026
-
People who have come of age since 2007 have not had that confidence—two severe recessions, one bout of inflation, and now a third recession apparently imminent and another second bout of inflation apparently imminent.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
When insurance adjusters examined the roadway where the crashes were happening, there were no obvious hazards—like faulty lighting or an especially steep grade—that could account for this newfound profusion.—
Patrick Radden Keefe,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Roadway speed cameras have been proven to reduce speeding by 31% to 82% and fatal crashes by 53% to 71%, according to the Los Angeles Department of Transportation.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
Making that declaration is risky, given the history of collapses by professional teams in this city.—
Michael Cunningham,
AJC.com,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Relapses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/relapses. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
