LAPSE Synonyms: 161 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the noun 'lapse' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of lapse are blunder , error , mistake , and slip . While all these words mean "a departure from what is true, right, or proper," lapse stresses forgetfulness, weakness, or inattention as a cause. // a lapse in judgment

Q: When might 'blunder' be a better fit than 'lapse'?

While in some cases nearly identical to lapse , blunder regularly imputes stupidity or ignorance as a cause and connotes some degree of blame. // diplomatic blunders

Q: Where would 'error' be a reasonable alternative to 'lapse'?

Although the words error and lapse have much in common, error suggests the existence of a standard or guide and a straying from the right course through failure to make effective use of this. // procedural errors

Q: In what contexts can 'mistake' take the place of 'lapse'?

In some situations, the words mistake and lapse are roughly equivalent. However, mistake implies misconception or inadvertence and usually expresses less criticism than error . // dialed the wrong number by mistake

Q: When can 'slip' be used instead of 'lapse'?

The words slip and lapse can be used in similar contexts, but slip stresses inadvertence or accident and applies especially to trivial but embarrassing mistakes. // a slip of the tongue

lapse 1 of 2

noun

ˈlaps

Definition of lapse

as in setback

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

status quo

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

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

lapse

2 of 2

verb

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

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun lapse differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of lapse are blunder, error, mistake, and slip. While all these words mean "a departure from what is true, right, or proper," lapse stresses forgetfulness, weakness, or inattention as a cause.

a lapse in judgment

When might blunder be a better fit than lapse?

While in some cases nearly identical to lapse, blunder regularly imputes stupidity or ignorance as a cause and connotes some degree of blame.

diplomatic blunders

Where would error be a reasonable alternative to lapse?

Although the words error and lapse have much in common, error suggests the existence of a standard or guide and a straying from the right course through failure to make effective use of this.

procedural errors

In what contexts can mistake take the place of lapse?

In some situations, the words mistake and lapse are roughly equivalent. However, mistake implies misconception or inadvertence and usually expresses less criticism than error.

dialed the wrong number by mistake

When can slip be used instead of lapse?

The words slip and lapse can be used in similar contexts, but slip stresses inadvertence or accident and applies especially to trivial but embarrassing mistakes.

a slip of the tongue

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 lapse

Noun

Our time-lapse cameras capturing the work over the past week. — ABC News, 4 Oct. 2026 Aviation security expert Menachem Bachrach said Israel relies largely on foreign governments and airlines to vet their own crew members, and Wednesday’s incident may point to a compliance lapse rather than a flaw in the procedures. — Sam Metz, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026

Verb

Other American zoos sent pandas back to China before that as loan agreements lapsed. — ABC News, 24 Sep. 2026 And even if films do score distribution, rights can quickly lapse. — Alex Ritman, Variety, 24 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lapse

Recent Examples of Synonyms for lapse

Noun

Enjoy, and see you soon… Argenx disclosed that its blockbuster drug Vyvgart failed to outperform placebo in a Phase 3 trial of patients with Sjögren’s disease, a chronic autoimmune disorder, marking an unusual setback for the company, STAT says.

— Ed Silverman, STAT, 9 Oct. 2026
As the cystic fibrosis community gathers this week in Atlanta for its largest annual gathering, Kramer-Golinkoff is hoping those patients will be a big part of the conversation, particularly after recent scientific setbacks.

— Gerry Smith, CNBC, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of setback

Noun

Still, when an account suddenly asks you to spend money or connect something valuable, a few extra checks can save you from a painful mistake.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2026
And on Sunday — despite driving with an impressive desperation (that included a heated Stage 2 exchange with his crew chief over the radio) — a few mistakes followed him.

— Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of mistake

Noun

But these trends of a shift from vaping to smoking as a cessation tool are less about changes in smoking prevalence, and more about a public health messaging failure that could have lasting consequences, experts warn.

— Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 30 Sep. 2026
That initial agreement included provisions on sanctions relief; the release of frozen assets; and a cessation of military operations, including in Lebanon.

— Piper Hudspeth Blackburn, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2026

Definition of cessation

Verb

In the opening scene, an old man eats a pear, smiles, and expires under a fruit tree; a beautiful death.

— Sophie Pinkham, The New York Review of Books, 10 Oct. 2026
And of course, when patents eventually expire, generic manufacturers can copy those discoveries and introduce them at much lower cost.

— Dr. Bowman Heiden, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of expire

Noun

The reversal of fortune prompted network executives to grouse that the Emmys had become a three-hour commercial for streaming services.

— Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026
The decision marks a dramatic reversal, after Ethiopian and Eritrean forces united in fighting the TPLF during the previous conflict.

— Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of reversal

Noun

Another factor is the effect of radiation on the chips powering the data centers which can cause errors.

— Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2026
That's out of nearly 190,000 reports made about the drug over that period, most of which included minor gastrointestinal issues, dosing errors or injection site redness.

— Yuki Noguchi, NPR, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of error

Noun

The government that came soon after brought it all to a screeching, heavily consequential halt.

— Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026
But ongoing deportations from the United States threaten to bring these transfers, which are a lifeline for the country’s economy and its people, to a halt.

— Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of halt

Verb

Dodgers lefty Tanner Scott came to the rescue and struck out Bauers and Yelich to end the inning (and Garrett Mitchell to kick off the seventh).

— Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
The race starts and ends at The Momentary in Bentonville and two of the three course lengths roll through McDonald County in Missouri.

— Glory Reitz, Arkansas Online, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of end

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Style

“Lapse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lapse. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of lapse

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verb

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