Backslides is a term used to describe a situation in which someone or something regresses or reverts to a previous state. The term can be broken down into three words: Reverts (7 letters), Relapses (8 letters), and Lapses (6 letters). Reverts refers to a return to a former condition, Relapses implies a return to an earlier state after a period of improvement, and Lapses suggests a temporary failure to maintain a certain standard. All three words are related to the concept of backsliding, which is a form of regression.