backslide
verb
back·slide
ˈbak-ˌslīd 
backslid
ˈbak-ˌslid
; backslid or backslidden
ˈbak-ˌsli-dᵊn
; backsliding
ˈbak-ˌslī-diŋ
; backslid or backslidden
ˈbak-ˌsli-dᵊn
; backsliding
ˈbak-ˌslī-diŋ
1
: to lapse morally or in the practice of religion
2
: to revert to a worse condition : retrogress
backslide
noun
Examples of backslide in a Sentence
Smokers who quit often backslide within a year.
Recent Examples on the Web
The announcement comes as nations are backsliding from funding global health.
—
Bloomberg, Mercury News, 8 May 2025
Sometimes good hitters can backslide, but both of them could heat up as the season progresses.
—Daniel R. Epstein, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
With Kennedy at the helm of HHS, scientists and public health experts worry that a major breakthrough in medicine development may now backslide.
—Dylan Scott, Vox, 11 Mar. 2025
More than 6,000 brands have been rated so far, with staffers generally endeavoring to update scores every 12 to 18 months to judge progress (or backsliding, as the case may be).
—Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 22 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for backslide
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Bloomberg, Mercury News, 8 May 2025
Sometimes good hitters can backslide, but both of them could heat up as the season progresses.
—Daniel R. Epstein, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
With Kennedy at the helm of HHS, scientists and public health experts worry that a major breakthrough in medicine development may now backslide.
—Dylan Scott, Vox, 11 Mar. 2025
More than 6,000 brands have been rated so far, with staffers generally endeavoring to update scores every 12 to 18 months to judge progress (or backsliding, as the case may be).
—Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 22 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for backslide
Cite this Entry
“Backslide.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/backslide. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
backslide
verb
back·slide
ˈbak-ˌslīd
1
: to go back to a less religious or less moral condition
2
: to go back to a worse condition
backslide
noun
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