as in reverting
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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Recent Examples of relapsing
The comedian went in and out of rehab more than a dozen times throughout his life, and was sober for three years before relapsing again in 1995.
—
Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 18 Dec. 2025
In a 2018 episode, Nick detailed a nightmarish experience relapsing into heroin use.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Dec. 2025
The story follows three addicts who, after their best friend’s overdose, join a secluded mountain sober house to get clean — only to discover the program’s most committed attendee is a recovering serial killer who’s relapsing in his own way.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 11 Nov. 2025
Irsay’s trips to the hospital were largely private under an agreement with medical staff, according to the Post, which says a handful of people in his orbit grew concerned about him possibly relapsing into addiction.
—Sean Neumann, People.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 18 Dec. 2025
In a 2018 episode, Nick detailed a nightmarish experience relapsing into heroin use.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Dec. 2025
The story follows three addicts who, after their best friend’s overdose, join a secluded mountain sober house to get clean — only to discover the program’s most committed attendee is a recovering serial killer who’s relapsing in his own way.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 11 Nov. 2025
Irsay’s trips to the hospital were largely private under an agreement with medical staff, according to the Post, which says a handful of people in his orbit grew concerned about him possibly relapsing into addiction.
—Sean Neumann, People.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for relapsing
Verb
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Indevin and Vinarchy will use synthetic pesticides and fertilizers in their vineyards, with the former rolling back organic practices at about 250 of its 320 acres, while the latter is reverting 200 of its 370 acres to conventional farming practices.—
Jeremy Repanich,
Robb Report,
10 Dec. 2025
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Could the Republican Party be reverting back to its old ways?—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
8 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Bipartisan lawmakers this week launched two discharge petitions designed to force votes to prevent the subsidies from lapsing.—
Mike Lillis,
The Hill,
15 Dec. 2025
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Funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, is lapsing after Friday — affecting 1 in 8 Americans who rely it to help buy groceries.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
29 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Relapsing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/relapsing. Accessed 19 Jan. 2026.
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