lapse — OAT · Shobdo

lapse

noun

1 a momentary lapse of concentration:

failure, failing, slip, error, mistake, blunder, fault, omission, oversight, negligence, dereliction;

informal slip-up, fail.

2 his lapse into petty crime:

decline, downturn, fall, falling, falling away, slipping, drop, deterioration, worsening, degeneration, dereliction, backsliding, regression, retrogression, decay, descent, sinking, slide, ebb, waning, corruption, debasement, tainting, corrosion, impairment.

3 after this lapse of time I can look at it more calmly:

interval, gap, pause, intermission, interlude, lull, hiatus, break;

passage, course, passing, period, term, span, spell.

verb

1 he let his membership lapse:

expire, become void, become invalid, run out, terminate, become obsolete.

2 do not let friendships lapse:

end, cease, come to an end, stop, terminate, vanish, disappear, pass, fade, fall away, dwindle, wilt, wither, die.

3 morality has lapsed:

deteriorate, decline, fall, fall off, drop, worsen, degenerate, decay, rot, backslide, regress, retrogress, get worse, sink, wane, slump, fail;

informal go downhill, go to pot, go to the dogs, go down the toilet, hit the skids.

▷antonyms improve, strengthen.

4 she lapsed into silence:

revert, relapse, fall back;

drift, slide, slip, sink, subside.