backsliding
Reverting to sin
Backsliding is reverting to bad habits, sinful behavior, or a worse condition after a period of improvement.
The term originates in religious contexts, where it describes someone who has fallen away from faith or moral discipline, but it applies broadly to any regression: After six months sober, one bad weekend sent him backsliding.
A backslider is someone prone to such lapses.
The word carries a tone of moral judgment—it implies not just failure but a kind of weakness or betrayal of progress already made.
Return to former illness
- recidivismHabitual return to crime
- recoveryRegaining what was lost
- sobrietyUnimpaired mental state
- abstinenceVoluntary forgoing of indulgences
craving · withdrawal · binge · temptation · setback · lapse · twelve-step · sponsor
Violation of divine law
- temptationUrge toward the unwise
- transgressionViolation of law or code
- waywardnessStubborn resistance to guidance
- strayingDeparting from course
weakness · falling · apostasy · defection · unfaithfulness · vice · corruption · immorality
Return to former state
- retrogressionMovement to earlier state
- reversalComplete change of direction
- setbackReverse in progress
- declineDecrease or refuse
slippage · retreat · fallback · backtracking · undoing · erosion · loss · stalling
Complete change of direction
- flip-flopSudden change of position
- U-turnDirection-reversing driving maneuver
- about-faceFull directional reversal
- backpedalingReversing one's position
retreat · compromise · capitulation · betrayal · broken promises · wavering · caving · reneging
relapse
Return to former illness
- recidivismHabitual return to crime
- recoveryRegaining what was lost
- sobrietyUnimpaired mental state
abstinence · craving · withdrawal · binge · temptation · setback · lapse · twelve-step · sponsor · rehabilitation
sin
Violation of divine law
- temptationUrge toward the unwise
- transgressionViolation of law or code
- waywardnessStubborn resistance to guidance
straying · weakness · falling · apostasy · defection · unfaithfulness · vice · corruption · immorality · wrongdoing
regression
Return to former state
- retrogressionMovement to earlier state
- reversalComplete change of direction
- setbackReverse in progress
decline · slippage · retreat · fallback · backtracking · undoing · erosion · loss · stalling · reversion
reversal
Complete change of direction
- flip-flopSudden change of position
- U-turnDirection-reversing driving maneuver
- about-faceFull directional reversal
backpedaling · retreat · compromise · capitulation · betrayal · broken promises · wavering · caving · reneging · abandonment
- setbacksfailing, stuck, losing, stumbles, hit a snag
- Christianesealtar call, blessed, born again, churched, convicted
- Evangelicalismevangelicalism, born again, born-again, evangelists, evangelist
- faith crisisfaith crisis, doubt, questioning faith, spiritual struggle, religious doubt
- moral decaymoral decay, moral decline, moral collapse, moral bankruptcy, degeneration
- religious strugglesdoubt, temptation, trials, tribulation, dark night
backslidingspiritual growth
Evolving in consciousness
advancement · progress · sanctification · spiritual progress · conversion
backslidingsteadfastness
Firm loyal dedication
perseverance · faithfulness · constancy · loyalty · commitment
backslidingprogress
Movement toward improvement
advancement · improvement · moving forward · growth · development
back, sliding, slide, backward, slid, slider, backslide, backslider, backslid