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lapse

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verb

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
Some Democrats are calling for an investigation and potential repercussions against those involved in the lapse. Mimi Montgomery, Axios, 25 Mar. 2025 What Atkinson doesn’t want are any tangible lapses in play to continue. Tony Jones, The Athletic, 24 Mar. 2025
Verb
The company has battled multiple public relations disasters on the Air Force One project, such as when company officials discovered that security clearances had lapsed for many of their workers and when empty tequila bottles were found on one of the planes under development. Eric Lipton, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2025 The Treasury Department on Wednesday let lapse a 60-day exemption put in place by the Biden administration in January that allowed specific energy transactions involving sanctioned Russian banks to continue. Jennifer Jacobs, CBS News, 13 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for lapse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lapse
Noun
  • And with Julian then sharing the affair, that was a huge setback.
    Breanne L. Heldman, People.com, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Whatever the case may be, Starship's back-to-back failures to start the year are a setback.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 3 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Serious mistakes were made in that investigation, and agents were disciplined for botching applications to secretly obtain a surveillance warrant.
    Adam Goldman, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2025
  • There is a huge difference between preparing with the obsession of not making mistakes and preparing with the desire to effectively convey a message.
    Chiara Alzati, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • 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
  • 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
  • Cal Fire is currently under contract to serve the southern district, but the county has opted to allow that contract to expire at the end of June.
    Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 3 Apr. 2025
  • Many of the tariffs on Chinese products remained in place during the Joe Biden administration while others expired.
    Lee Habeeb, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The reversals of the Biden-era lawsuits mark the beginnings of a broader effort by Trump administration officials to attempt to tighten their grip on federal elections.
    Ashley Oliver, The Washington Examiner, 1 Apr. 2025
  • German diplomatic missions abroad are unable to influence the reversal of a denial of entry.
    Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 1 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The surveys were conducted either online or by telephone with a live interviewer, and had a margin of error of plus or minus 1.9 percentage points.
    Kim Hjelmgaard, USA Today, 8 Apr. 2025
  • The poll was conducted between March 24 and 28 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.7 percentage points.
    Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • 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
  • Rather than dwell on this possibility, or call for a halt to further investments until the federal funding picture resolves, supervisors instead took turns bidding Bergmann farewell and welcoming acting director Nadia Privara.
    Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The Senate has changed the rules of filibustering several times over the decades, like reducing the number of votes required for cloture in 1975 and allowing a simple majority to end debate on nominations in the 2010s.
    Rachel Treisman, NPR, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Afterwards, final voting commences on August 18 and ends the night of August 27.
    Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 4 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Lapse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lapse. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.

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