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
Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 24 Oct. 2024
Long-term management of eating disorders involves ongoing treatment to address any health complications and prevent relapse.
—Lisa Rapaport, EverydayHealth.com, 12 July 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 
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback
about these examples.
Noun
If your symptoms of anxiety do not improve, talk to your healthcare provider about getting professional treatments to reduce anxiety, decrease your risk of relapse, and improve your overall quality of life.
—Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 24 Oct. 2024
Long-term management of eating disorders involves ongoing treatment to address any health complications and prevent relapse.
—Lisa Rapaport, EverydayHealth.com, 12 July 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 19 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share