backsliders
Those who regress
Backsliders are people who have lapsed from a commitment, particularly a religious faith or moral standard.
The word carries a tone of disapproval, implying weakness or moral failure: The preacher warned backsliders to return to the fold.
In secular contexts, backsliders are those who revert to bad habits after a period of improvement: The support group welcomed backsliders without judgment.
Those who abandon belief
- lapsedEnded through neglect
- fallenHaving dropped down
- sinnersMoral law violators
- prodigalsReckless spenders who return
wayward · unfaithful · straying · recidivists · defectors · deserters · renegades · turncoats
Those who return to former states
- addictsPeople with compulsions
- recoveringRegaining health or strength
- slippingLosing footing unintentionally
- sobrietyUnimpaired mental state
sponsors · meetings · twelve-step · temptation · triggers · falling off · wagon · setback
apostates
Those who abandon belief
prodigals · wayward · unfaithful · straying · recidivists · defectors · deserters · renegades · turncoats · reprobates
relapsers
Those who return to former states
- addictsPeople with compulsions
- recoveringRegaining health or strength
- slippingLosing footing unintentionally
sobriety · sponsors · meetings · twelve-step · temptation · triggers · falling off · wagon · setback · struggle
cheaters
Nonprescription reading glasses
temptation · cravings · indulgence · yo-yo · regain · plateau · slip-up · cheat day · gym · resolution
- dissentersdissenter, dissenters, dissidents, dissident, nonconformists
- nonbelieversatheist, atheists, agnostic, agnostics, nonbeliever
- revivalismrevivals, revivalism, revivalist, revivalists, camp meeting
backslidersovercomers
Those who prevail despite challenges
achievers · strivers · reformers · progressives · advancers