LAPSES Synonyms: 158 Similar and Opposite Words

lapses 1 of 2

noun

plural of lapse

as in setbacks

a change in status for the worse usually temporarily the scandal caused the president to suffer a dramatic lapse in popularity

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Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

status quos

as in mistakes

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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as in cessations

the stopping of a process or activity wasn't bothered by the lapse of her membership at the health club

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lapses

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of lapse

as in expires

to come to an end the contract will lapse at the end of the year unless we renew

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of lapses

Noun

Fernández praised his offense Monday and pointed to lapses on the other end, an especially relevant concern after Washington scored 72 first-half points. — C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 13 Oct. 2026 Dozens of people died, and investigators later found severe safety lapses in the pharmacy’s production of sterile drugs. — Alana Semuels, Time, 7 Oct. 2026 Kimmel’s current contract — lasting just one year — lapses following the end of the current TV season in 2027. — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 5 Oct. 2026 The moment is a test for the UAE government, which has burnished a reputation for building effective measures against extremist activities but also has bristled in the past over criticism of security lapses. — Sam Mednick, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026 Even if the bill passes and schools are required to maintain their numbers, the provision lapses in nine years at the biggest schools and four years at mid-sized universities, which is why the USOPC is doing work now. — ABC News, 30 Sep. 2026 Willis threw for 210 yards — the third-highest passing output of his career — on the back of lapses in coverage that led to four explosive plays. — Kansas City Star, 27 Sep. 2026 The fact that here on Earth the same amount of time lapses for two people between a separation and reunion gives us a peculiar intuition about temporality—an intuition that does not work elsewhere. — Literary Hub, 21 Sep. 2026 Leaders contented that in addition to geopolitical challenges, they have been impacted as luxury brands struggle to restore client loyalty following a period of rampant price hikes and even some lapses in quality. — Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2026

Verb

Is gas still moving through the Tabriz-Ankara corridor at material volumes in mid-July, after the contract lapses? — Güney Yıldız, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026 That could — when the policy lapses ― expose taxpayers to additional risk. — Frank Witsil, Freep.com, 13 Feb. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for lapses

Noun

Through schoolyard rivalries, neighborhood hustles, and family setbacks, Kev turns every disaster into a story.

— Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2026
Despite undergoing a blood transfusion, which briefly provided a glimpse of hope, Jackie continued to suffer setbacks in her recovery due to the sickness, which remained a mystery until Wednesday's announcement by California wildlife officials.

— Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of setbacks

Noun

Cases can be delayed with different tactics, including intimidation, corruption and procedural mistakes that can reduce charges or even lead to acquittals, said Carole Grace Mbarga, a Cameroonian rights activist.

— ABC News, ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026
Common kitchen layout mistakes can make your space dysfunctional and uninviting.

— Kristin Hohenadel, The Spruce, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of mistakes

Verb

The timeline calls for the Royals to move to the new stadium a year before the team’s lease at Kauffman Stadium expires.

— Dylan Lysen, Kansas City Star, 15 Oct. 2026
Trump immediately signed an order for new 10 percent global tariffs for a limited time of 150 days that expires on July 24.

— Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of expires

Noun

The president, who generally resists admitting fault, has recently made several reversals responding to ethical concerns.

— Isaac Arnsdorf, Washington Post, 7 Oct. 2026
But while anti-immigrant, pro-Russian parties have made inroads across the continent in recent years, there have also been notable reversals, and some have softened their views to build coalitions with moderates.

— ABC News, ABC News, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of reversals

Noun

When people have little relief from stress in a chaotic environment, their brains have difficulty coping with the ongoing prediction errors, Friston, McEwen and neuroscientist Achim Peters argued in a 2017 article.

— Maia Szalavitz, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
Passengers will also be able to fix any name errors on their booking for free.

— Will Barker, TheWeek, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of errors

Noun

That was March 2020, when the CEOs of General Motors, Ford, and Fiat Chrysler tried to coordinate production halts over Covid-19 fears, only to be warned by their lawyers that doing so could violate antitrust rules.

— Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 17 Sep. 2026
The automatic stay halts proceedings but doesn't compel creditors to undo pre-petition filings without operative effect.

— Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 27 June 2026

Definition of halts

Verb

Last week, when Ocasio-Cortez made three campaign stops for Michigan Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed, neither Democrat — and no audience members — brought up the topic of Gaza.

— David Weigel, semafor.com, 19 Oct. 2026
In January 2025, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch changed the department pursuit policy, barring cops from chasing after vehicles fleeing car stops unless a felony crime or a violent misdemeanor was committed.

— John Annese, New York Daily News, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of stops

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“Lapses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lapses. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of lapses

noun

verb

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