backslide
Return to sin
To backslide is to slip back into bad habits, sinful behavior, or a less desirable state after making progress.
The term originated in religious contexts—a backslider has fallen away from faith—but now applies broadly: He backslid into drinking after six months sober.
The past tense is backslid or backslided.
Revert to earlier state
- revertReturn to earlier condition
- deteriorateGrow worse over time
- declineDecrease or refuse
- worsenBecome more severe
degenerate · fall · sink · lapse · retrogress · recede · retreat · undo
Brief failure or expiration
- recidivismHabitual return to crime
- addictionCompulsive substance reliance
- recoveryRegaining what was lost
- temptationUrge toward the unwise
sobriety · abstinence · craving · withdrawal · detox · binge · trigger · rehabilitation
Violation of divine law
- faithTrust without proof
- apostasyRenunciation of former beliefs
- temptationUrge toward the unwise
- repentanceRemorseful rejection of past wrongs
redemption · salvation · wayward · stray · fallen · transgression · weakness · devotion
Something blocking the way
- hindranceBarrier to progress
- stumbling blockObstacle causing difficulty
- difficultyState of being hard
- reversalComplete change of direction
defeat · disappointment · failure · blow · snag · hiccup · delay · complication
regress
Revert to earlier state
- revertReturn to earlier condition
- deteriorateGrow worse over time
- declineDecrease or refuse
worsen · degenerate · fall · sink · lapse · retrogress · recede · retreat · undo · reverse
lapse
Brief failure or expiration
- recidivismHabitual return to crime
- addictionCompulsive substance reliance
- recoveryRegaining what was lost
temptation · sobriety · abstinence · craving · withdrawal · detox · binge · trigger · rehabilitation · intervention
sin
Violation of divine law
- faithTrust without proof
- apostasyRenunciation of former beliefs
- temptationUrge toward the unwise
repentance · redemption · salvation · wayward · stray · fallen · transgression · weakness · devotion · righteousness
obstacle
Something blocking the way
- hindranceBarrier to progress
- stumbling blockObstacle causing difficulty
- difficultyState of being hard
reversal · defeat · disappointment · failure · blow · snag · hiccup · delay · complication · adversity
- wrestling pinspinfall, cover, fall, body press, cradle
- street dancebreaking, breakdancing, b-boying, popping, locking
- going backwardsregression, throwback, reversal, retreat, retrogression
- declinedecline, in decline, decrease, downswing, on the decline
- failingfail, fails, collapse, flop, bomb
- failuresfailure, failures, flop, flops, bust
backslidepersevere
Continue despite obstacles
hold fast · keep the faith · persist · stand firm · stay the course
backslideprogress
Movement toward improvement
advance · improve · develop · grow · move forward
backslidestay the course
Continue despite difficulties
abstain · persist · endure · stand firm · stick with it