v. i. | 1. | To slip or slide back, in a literal sense; to turn back. |
2. | To slide or turn back into a former state or practice; to fall back from some condition attained; - generally in a bad sense, as from a state of convalescence or amended condition; | |
3. | (Theol.) To fall from Christian faith into paganism, heresy, or unbelief; to backslide. | |
n. | 1. | A sliding or falling back, especially into a former bad state, either of body or morals; backsliding; the state of having fallen back. |
2. | One who has relapsed, or fallen back, into error; a backslider; specifically, one who, after recanting error, returns to it again. |
Noun | 1. | relapse - a failure to maintain a higher state |
Verb | 1. | relapse - deteriorate in health; "he relapsed" Synonyms: get worse |
2. | relapse - go back to bad behavior; "Those who recidivate are often minor criminals" |
RELAPSE. The condition of one who, after having abandoned a course of vice, returns to it again. Vide Recidive.
about-face, apostasy, backing, backset, backslide, backsliding, backward motion, backward step, cock, decline, degenerate, degeneration, deterioration, disenchantment, disimprove, fading, fail, failing, failure, fall, fall again into, fall astern, fall back, fall behind, fall from grace, falling back, flip-flop, get back, get behind, get worse, go back, go backwards, go behind, grow worse, have a relapse, jerk back, lapse, lapse back, lapsing, let down, lose ground, pull back, reaction, recede, recession, recidivate, recidivation, recidivism, reclamation, reconversion, recur to, reentry, refluence, reflux, regressing, regression, rehabilitation, reinstatement, restitution, restoration, retreat, retroaction, retrocede, retrocession, retroflex, retroflexion, retrogradation, retrograde, retrogress, retrogression, retroversion, retrovert, retrusion, return, return to, returning, reversal, reverse, reversion, revert, revert to, reverting, revulsion, rollback, setback, sicken, sink back, sinking, slacken, slide back, slip back, slipping back, sternway, throwback, turn, turnabout, weakening, worsening, yield again to