: a new outbreak after a period of abatement or inactivity : renewal
a recrudescence of the symptoms
a recrudescence of guerrilla warfare
Did you know?
Recrudescence derives from the Latin verb recrudescere, meaning "to become raw again" (used, for example, of wounds). Ultimately, it can be traced back to the Latin word for raw," which is "crudus." (If you suspect that "crude" is also derived from "crudus," you are correct; another well-known descendant is "cruel.") In its literal sense, "recrudescence" is a medical word denoting a renewed outbreak of a disease. In extended use, it most often describes the return of an undesirable condition, such as a war or a plague, or the return of an undesirable idea.
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the WebThis is also evident in the recrudescence of the Little House on the Prairie look for younger women, a style that has historically been a favorite among the chronically abstinent. Cintra Wilson, The New York Review of Books, 11 Feb. 2020 All this will lead to a recrudescence of interesting political theory.The Economist, 19 June 2019 Only this wise, collegial institution prevents a recrudescence of World War II. Lionel Shriver, Harper's magazine, 10 Apr. 2019