backslide

present singular third person backslides · participle present backsliding · past backslid · past backslided · participle past backslidden · participle past backslid · participle past backslided

1. intransitiveTo regress; to slip backwards or revert to a previous, worse state.

   He felt better for a little while, before his condition started to backslide.

   2 more examples

   […] Monna Brigida, who had backslided into false hair in Romola's absence, but now drew it off again and declared she would not mind being gray, if her dear child would stay with her.

   1893, George Eliot, “Meeting Again”, in Romola, volume III, page 233

   Despite backsliding in various parts of the globe, there's a very clear trend towards the decentralisation of governments.

   1997, J. J. King, quoting Kevin Kelly, “The Right Connections: Tea with Kevin Kelly”, in Mute, volume 1, number 8, →ISSN

   Synonyms: retrograde

2. transitiveTo shirk responsibility; to renege on one's obligations or commitments.

   Rich countries are backsliding on their commitment to agree to new WTO measures to help people in poor countries gain access to affordable medicines.

   2002 June 24, “Rich countries backsliding on WTO commitments on drug patent rules says Oxfam International”, in Oxfam America, archived from the original on 12 Jun 2007

3. ChristianityTo revert back into a life of sin after being saved.

plural backslides

1. A backward regression; a reverting back to a worse state.
2. danceA dance move in which the feet are alternately slid back and the heels lifted, giving the illusion of walking forwards while actually moving backwards.

   Synonyms: moonwalk