1
: the act or an instance of backsliding, worsening, or subsiding
2
: a recurrence of symptoms of a disease after a period of improvement
relapsed; relapsing
1
: to slip or fall back into a former worse state
relapser
noun
Examples of relapse in a Sentence
Noun
Everyone thought she was well until a sudden relapse sent her back to the hospital.
a drug addict who has had a relapse
a drug addict who has a history of relapse
Verb
If you don't continue your treatment, you could relapse.
Malaria can relapse years after the original infection.
The country soon relapsed into chaos.
She stayed out of trouble for a long time, but then she relapsed into her old ways.
Recent Examples on the Web
Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 30 Oct. 2024
These emotions can work to trigger a flare-up or promote a relapse for people with this disease by interfering with the brain-gut axis.1
The vagus nerve connects the brain and gut.
—Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 28 Oct. 2024
Brian Brant, People.com, 27 Oct. 2024
Women typically receive an MS diagnosis in their early 30s, most often with relapsing MS, the most common type.
—Brandi Jones, Msn-Ed, Rn-Bc, Health, 24 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for relapse 
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Noun
These medications can help reduce the frequency of relapses and slow the progression of MS.
—Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 30 Oct. 2024
These emotions can work to trigger a flare-up or promote a relapse for people with this disease by interfering with the brain-gut axis.1
The vagus nerve connects the brain and gut.
—Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 28 Oct. 2024
Verb
He was then sent to a residential treatment center, relapsed and was sent back.
—Brian Brant, People.com, 27 Oct. 2024
Women typically receive an MS diagnosis in their early 30s, most often with relapsing MS, the most common type.
—Brandi Jones, Msn-Ed, Rn-Bc, Health, 24 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for relapse
Dictionary Entries Near relapse
Cite this Entry
“Relapse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/relapse. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.
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Medical Definition
: a recurrence of illness
especially
: a recurrence of symptoms of a disease after a period of improvement
a relapse after an 18-month remission —M. T. Fosburg et al.
compare recrudescence
M. T. Fosburg et al. relapse
2 of 2 intransitive verb
re·lapse
ri-ˈlaps 
relapsed; relapsing
: to slip or fall back into a former worse state (as of illness) after a change for the better
the patient relapsed twice in four years
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