recidivate

R1E1C3I1D2I1V4A1T1E1
/rɪˈsɪdɪveɪt/

verb

To relapse into a previous pattern of behavior, especially to commit new offenses after having been punished or sanctioned for earlier ones.

Similar
recidivizerelapselapseregressretrogressfall back
OriginLatin recidīvus →
Scrabble 16
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Meanings

verbrecidivate (third-person singular simple present recidivates, present participle recidivating, simple past and past participle recidivated)

present singular third person recidivates · participle present recidivating · participle past recidivated · past recidivated

  1. intransitiveTo relapse into a previous pattern of behavior, especially to commit new offenses after having been punished or sanctioned for earlier ones.

    Synonyms: recidivize

Synonyms & antonyms

verbTo relapse into a previous pattern of behavior, especially to commit new offenses after having been punished or sanctioned for earlier ones.

Similar
recidivize

More synonyms by meaning

verbgo back to bad behavior

Similar
relapselapseregressretrogressfall back
Broader
revertreturnretrovert
Also see
fall backlapserecidiverecidivizeregressrelapseretrogress

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Latinrecidīvus“returning, recurring”
  2. Englishrecidivate

Adapted borrowing of Medieval Latin recidīvātus + -ate (verb-forming suffix), past participle of recidīvō, from Latin recidīvus (“returning, recurring”) + -ō (verb-forming suffix). Compare French récidiver. By surface analysis, recidive + -ate

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan reincidir
  • reincidirreturn to criminal behaviour
French récidiver
  • récidiverreturn to criminal behaviour
Cite this entry
APA

recidivate. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/recidivate

MLA

“recidivate.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/recidivate. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “recidivate,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/recidivate.

Source: recidivate on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.