1
as in setbacks
a change in status for the worse usually temporarily
the scandal caused the president to suffer a dramatic lapse in popularity
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in mistakes
an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy
his slip of the tongue about the mayor's name was an unfortunate lapse
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in cessations
the stopping of a process or activity
wasn't bothered by the lapse of her membership at the health club
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in expires
to come to an end
the contract will lapse at the end of the year unless we renew
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of lapses
Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 25 Apr. 2026
Meanwhile, smarter baserunning and fewer defensive lapses might lead to bigger innings.
—Kansas City Star, 23 Apr. 2026
In recent congressional testimony, McNeill warned that prolonged funding lapses have strained the agency's workforce and operations, with rising absenteeism, attrition and long checkpoint wait times at some airports.
—Nicole Sganga, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026
With the new deadline looming as the current extension lapses April 30, the House is under pressure to pass a longer-term version of the bill.
—Kevin Fixler
april 22, Idaho Statesman, 22 Apr. 2026
Houston’s offensive lapses, a dose of what the Lakers had been trudging through since losing Doncic and Reaves, was understandable.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 19 Apr. 2026
The Hawks will test the Knicks’ defense at all three levels, beginning with the 3-point line, hunting treys in transition, where the Knicks have been susceptible to lapses this season.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 17 Apr. 2026
Similar lapses are likely to occur in the PCQ transition as well.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 17 Apr. 2026
Montreal and Ottawa are making a second straight appearance following lengthy postseason lapses.
—John Wawrow, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 Apr. 2026
Frank Witsil, Freep.com, 13 Feb. 2026
Noun
Despite his late-game defensive lapses, Vucevic played arguably his best game of the series, finishing with 11 points, six rebounds, four assists and three blocks.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 25 Apr. 2026
Meanwhile, smarter baserunning and fewer defensive lapses might lead to bigger innings.
—Kansas City Star, 23 Apr. 2026
In recent congressional testimony, McNeill warned that prolonged funding lapses have strained the agency's workforce and operations, with rising absenteeism, attrition and long checkpoint wait times at some airports.
—Nicole Sganga, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026
With the new deadline looming as the current extension lapses April 30, the House is under pressure to pass a longer-term version of the bill.
—Kevin Fixler
april 22, Idaho Statesman, 22 Apr. 2026
Houston’s offensive lapses, a dose of what the Lakers had been trudging through since losing Doncic and Reaves, was understandable.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 19 Apr. 2026
The Hawks will test the Knicks’ defense at all three levels, beginning with the 3-point line, hunting treys in transition, where the Knicks have been susceptible to lapses this season.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 17 Apr. 2026
Similar lapses are likely to occur in the PCQ transition as well.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 17 Apr. 2026
Montreal and Ottawa are making a second straight appearance following lengthy postseason lapses.
—John Wawrow, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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
-
There have been setbacks along the way.—
Jonathan Bullington,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
-
But noise, as well as glare, are typically buffered with vegetative landscaping and setbacks, or the distance between the property line and the nearest structure.—
Anna Clark,
ProPublica,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
According to the San Bernardino County Registrar of Voters, mistakes can also be corrected by simply indicating the correction on your original ballot.—
Hector Amezcua,
Sacbee.com,
30 Apr. 2026
-
These mistakes can sometimes increase the record's value.—
Nina Derwin,
Martha Stewart,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Temporary cessations of hostility, but no permanent closing of the moral and social divide between debtor and creditor, and no giving up on the thought that some lives matter more than others.—
Henry Freedland,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Over the past two weeks, Lucas and other city officials have referenced a desire to open the new stadium by Opening Day 2030, a timeline that Lucas has acknowledged as aggressive and would put the Royals in Crown Center before their lease expires at Kauffman Stadium in 2031.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
23 Apr. 2026
-
The temporary ceasefire expires Sunday, April 26.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
What followed was a series of appeals and reversals that kept Rose on (and off) death row for nearly 50 years.—
Rafael Olmeda,
Sun Sentinel,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The Supreme Court upheld the reversals, and the three men later pleaded to voluntary manslaughter counts — resulting in them being paroled — under an agreement that required them to admit to being responsible for Tyree’s death in open court.—
Robert Salonga,
Mercury News,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Hopefully his teammates and coaches realize the errors in their ways.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
26 Apr. 2026
-
In December, Chelsea’s players looked inexplicably unprepared for the intensity of this long-time rivalry and were caught out via defensive errors.—
Cerys Jones,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Former leaders warn that the loss of institutional knowledge, combined with halts to the incoming pipeline of public health workers, may lead to a long-term crisis.—
Pien Huang,
NPR,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Automotive industry analysts are forecasting that another microchip shortage could hit in the coming months, which could increase risks for production halts as costs skyrocket.—
Breana Noble,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The single item that stops new projects is when the Affordable Requirements Ordinance (ARO) is required, with a set-aside of 20% of the units to be rented at below market prices.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
-
And that’s where the problem stops being technical and starts being structural.—
The AI Insider,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lapses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lapses. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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