backslider
One who regresses
A backslider is someone who has fallen away from a commitment, especially religious faith or moral standards.
The term carries judgment—a backslider hasn't just drifted but has returned to old sins or bad habits after a period of reform: The preacher warned against becoming a backslider.
Common in evangelical Christian contexts.
Remorseful state over misdeeds
- remorseGuilt for wrongdoing
- penitenceRemorse for misdeeds
- atonementCompensation for wrongdoing
- redemptionRecovery or moral restoration
confession · forgiveness · reformation · reconciliation · absolution · pardon · amendment · recommitment
Habitual return to crime
- lapseBrief failure or expiration
- fallDescend under gravity
- slipMinor error or misstep
- relapseReturn to former illness
temptation · addiction · recovery · reverting · setback · recurrence · weakness · stumble
Renunciation of former beliefs
- defectionAbandoning one's loyalty
- desertionUnlawful abandonment of duty
- unfaithfulnessBreach of romantic commitment
- disloyaltyBreach of allegiance
abandonment · waywardness · straying · wandering · falling away · faithlessness · betrayal · renunciation
Weakness of body
- fallibilityLiability to err
- vulnerabilityOpenness to harm
- inconstancyLack of steadiness
- waveringShowing unsteady resolve
fickleness · irresolution · susceptibility · temptation · imperfection · human nature · flesh · failing
Sustained resolve despite obstacles
- resilienceCapacity to recover quickly
- setbackReverse in progress
- challengeTest of ability
- fightPhysical or verbal conflict
battle · determination · endurance · recovery · overcoming · resistance · willpower · self-discipline
contrition
Remorseful state over misdeeds
redemption · confession · forgiveness · reformation · reconciliation · absolution · pardon · amendment · recommitment · renewal
recidivism
Habitual return to crime
relapse · temptation · addiction · recovery · reverting · setback · recurrence · weakness · stumble · regression
apostasy
Renunciation of former beliefs
- defectionAbandoning one's loyalty
- desertionUnlawful abandonment of duty
- unfaithfulnessBreach of romantic commitment
disloyalty · abandonment · waywardness · straying · wandering · falling away · faithlessness · betrayal · renunciation · heresy
frailty
Weakness of body
- fallibilityLiability to err
- vulnerabilityOpenness to harm
- inconstancyLack of steadiness
wavering · fickleness · irresolution · susceptibility · temptation · imperfection · human nature · flesh · failing · shortcoming
perseverance
Sustained resolve despite obstacles
- resilienceCapacity to recover quickly
- setbackReverse in progress
- challengeTest of ability
fight · battle · determination · endurance · recovery · overcoming · resistance · willpower · self-discipline · accountability
- Christianesealtar call, blessed, born again, churched, convicted
- faith labelsbeliever, nonbeliever, atheist, agnostic, theist
- sinnerssinner, transgressor, evildoer, wrongdoer, blasphemer
- tent revivaltent revival, camp meeting, altar call, altar calls, evangelist
- ex-believersapostate, ex-believer, former believer, lapsed, deconvert
- deceiversliar, liars, deceiver, fraud, fake
backsliderfaithful
Consistently loyal and true
devout · saint · true believer · adherent · zealot
backsliderstalwart
Unwavering loyal supporter
loyalist · die-hard · true blue · steadfast · unwavering
backsliderzealot
Obsessive cause supporter
fanatic · fundamentalist · bigot · extremist · true believer