relapse

11 synonyms and 6 antonyms for relapse, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Verb — To fall back into a former, usually worse, state after a period of improvement.

Synonyms

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

lapse

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

regress lapsing relapsing reversion reverting get worse fall back recidivate retrogress backsliding

Synonyms by Meaning

1. verb

To fall back into a former, usually worse, state after a period of improvement.

“He relapsed into old habits within weeks of quitting.”

lapse regress lapsing relapsing reversion reverting get worse fall back recidivate retrogress backsliding

Opposites

recover progress improve advance

2. noun

An occasion of falling back into illness, a bad habit, or a previous state.

“The addiction charity helps people cope with relapse.”

reverting backsliding reversion lapse lapsing relapsing

Opposites

recovery improvement

How to use relapse

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

suffer a relapse relapse into old habits risk of relapse

Etymology

From Latin relabi, "to slide back," from re- ("back") plus labi ("to slip or slide").

Full origin of relapse →

Frequently asked questions

What does “relapse” mean?

The word “relapse” means to fall back into a former, usually worse, state after a period of improvement. In plain terms, to slip back into a bad state (illness, addiction, old habits) after getting better.

How do you pronounce “relapse”?

“Relapse” is pronounced rih-LAPS (/ɹɪˈlæps/ in IPA).

How do you use “relapse” in a sentence?

Here is “relapse” used in a sentence: “He relapsed into old habits within weeks of quitting.”

What part of speech is “relapse”?

Depending on how it is used, “relapse” can be a verb and a noun.

Where does the word “relapse” come from?

The word “relapse” comes from Latin. From Latin relabi, "to slide back," from re- ("back") plus labi ("to slip or slide").

Is “relapse” a common word?

“Relapse” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.

How many meanings does “relapse” have?

“Relapse” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to fall back into a former, usually worse, state after a period of improvement.

Related words

remission

People also searched

progress improve advance recovery improvement recover lapse retrogress lapsing reversion regress recidivate

Nearby words

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