backslide
verb
back·slide
ˈbak-ˌslīd 
backslid
ˈbak-ˌslid
; backslid or backslidden
ˈbak-ˌsli-dᵊn
; backsliding
ˈbak-ˌslī-diŋ
; backslid or backslidden
ˈbak-ˌsli-dᵊn
; backsliding
ˈbak-ˌslī-diŋ
1
: to lapse morally or in the practice of religion
2
: to revert to a worse condition : retrogress
backslide
noun
Examples of backslide in a Sentence
Smokers who quit often backslide within a year.
Recent Examples on the Web
An influential United Nations human rights body delivered a scathing assessment on the protection of civil rights in Britain, accusing the Conservative government of backsliding and urging them to abandon a controversial legislation to send asylum seekers to Rwanda.
—
Niki Kitsantonis, New York Times, 11 June 2024
Poland, a country whose government was (at the time) backsliding on democracy and the rule of law, but was staunchly anti-Russian, was not.
—Joshua Keating, Vox, 20 May 2024
If the opioids were particularly potent, a patient might backslide as the antagonist wore off.
—C.j. Chivers James Patrick Cronin Elena Hecht Anna Diamond Quinton Kamara, New York Times, 6 June 2024
Guard Trey Townsend, who averaged 17.3 points for Oakland, is exactly the type of player needed to keep the program from backsliding significantly in its new home.
—Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 10 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for backslide 
Niki Kitsantonis, New York Times, 11 June 2024
Poland, a country whose government was (at the time) backsliding on democracy and the rule of law, but was staunchly anti-Russian, was not.
—Joshua Keating, Vox, 20 May 2024
If the opioids were particularly potent, a patient might backslide as the antagonist wore off.
—C.j. Chivers James Patrick Cronin Elena Hecht Anna Diamond Quinton Kamara, New York Times, 6 June 2024
Guard Trey Townsend, who averaged 17.3 points for Oakland, is exactly the type of player needed to keep the program from backsliding significantly in its new home.
—Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 10 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for backslide
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'backslide.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Backslide.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/backslide. Accessed 2 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
backslide
verb
back·slide
ˈbak-ˌslīd
1
: to go back to a less religious or less moral condition
2
: to go back to a worse condition
backslide
noun
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