1
as in setback
a change in status for the worse usually temporarily
the scandal caused the president to suffer a dramatic lapse in popularity
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in mistake
an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy
his slip of the tongue about the mayor's name was an unfortunate lapse
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in cessation
the stopping of a process or activity
wasn't bothered by the lapse of her membership at the health club
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to expire
to come to an end
the contract will lapse at the end of the year unless we renew
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lapse
Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Apr. 2025
The Hamilton Manufacturing Company’s regulations for keepers, for example, show that they were also expected to manage the conduct of their residents, report any misbehavior or lapses in church attendance, and maintain the yards and sidewalks of their houses.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 2 Apr. 2025
Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 2025
Though the matter was not clearly articulated as such, Scott seemed to be making the distinction that Wallis’ dismissal was not a matter of discipline for any sort of alleged wrongdoing, but rather a decision not to renew a contract that would have lapsed in May if not explicitly extended.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lapse
Noun
One of those lapses led to a false start penalty during practice.
—Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Apr. 2025
The Hamilton Manufacturing Company’s regulations for keepers, for example, show that they were also expected to manage the conduct of their residents, report any misbehavior or lapses in church attendance, and maintain the yards and sidewalks of their houses.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 2 Apr. 2025
Verb
However, the federal government is on the brink of a shutdown, with funding set to lapse this Friday if a new spending bill isn't approved.
—Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 2025
Though the matter was not clearly articulated as such, Scott seemed to be making the distinction that Wallis’ dismissal was not a matter of discipline for any sort of alleged wrongdoing, but rather a decision not to renew a contract that would have lapsed in May if not explicitly extended.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lapse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lapse
Noun
-
McIlroy responded to all of his setbacks admirably.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Apr. 2025
-
The announcement adds to a string of setbacks in the company’s bid to win a slice of the booming market for GLP-1s, which mimic certain gut hormones to tamp down appetite and regulate blood sugar.—
Annika Kim Constantino,
CNBC,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
There have been expensive product mistakes and lots of trial and error with brushes, clips, hair dryers….—
Liz Krieger,
Allure,
15 Apr. 2025
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And unlike misspellings or other mistakes, large swaths of coherent text don’t give the reader clues that the transcriptions could be inaccurate, potentially leading users to use them in high-stakes scenarios without ever finding their failures.—
Asmelash Teka Hadgu,
Scientific American,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Forbes is protected by reCAPTCHA, and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Cuts to smoking prevention and cessation programs, for example, don’t square with the aim of decreasing rates of chronic disease.—
Joshua P. Cohen,
Forbes.com,
8 Apr. 2025
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Any deal that eases sanctions or normalizes Russia's global standing should come with an end to weapons transfers to Iran and Syria and a cessation of military cooperation that enhances Iran's nuclear and missile programs.—
Jason D. Greenblatt,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The fate of president of basketball operations James Jones is not yet known, but his contract expires at the end of June, league sources said, and Ishbia is widely expected to consider new candidates for the role.—
Doug Haller,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
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With key provisions of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) set to expire at the end of this year, Washington is debating tax reform behind closed doors, and their decisions will reverberate through every corner of American life.—
Jack Salmon,
National Review,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The reversal played out at the closed board meeting, the person and Dreyer, who listened to the meeting over Zoom, said to The Bee.—
Ishani Desai,
Sacbee.com,
14 Apr. 2025
-
His defensive stance provided a massive cushion for Berkshire as President Donald Trump’s stunning tariff rollout and reversal triggered roller-coaster price swings in the market.—
Yun Li,
CNBC,
13 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
In the last two decades, five helicopters on commercial sightseeing flights have crashed into the Hudson and East rivers due to mechanical failures, pilot errors, or collisions, resulting in 20 fatalities.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Apr. 2025
-
For example, chatbots with a high error rate will leave you with customers who no longer trust your website.—
John Hall,
Forbes.com,
13 Apr. 2025
Noun
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More than 1,000 clinical trials have come to a halt across the country and world, ranging from cardiovascular disease treatment to HIV prevention, to childhood and adult cancer treatment.—
Gordon G. Chang,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Apr. 2025
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One unique thing Reno fit into it is a short sound around the 1:35 mark that sounds like a car screeching to a halt.—
Tom Roland,
Billboard,
8 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Lawmakers can typically override a governor’s veto with another vote on the bill if the legislation receives two-thirds support from each chamber, though the Idaho Legislature ended this year’s regular legislative session early this month.—
Alex Brizee,
Idaho Statesman,
15 Apr. 2025
-
Brandon Hyde, Baltimore Orioles The Orioles ended the 2024 regular season in a 34-38 swoon, then were swept at home by the Kansas City Royals in the wild-card round.—
Ken Rosenthal,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lapse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lapse. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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