Crossword Genius

Right - improve, please, or deteriorate (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

relapse

'deteriorate' is the definition.
(as in a relapse of a medical condition)

'right improve please' is the wordplay.
'right' becomes 'r' (common abbreviation).
'improve' indicates an anagram.
'please' anagrammed gives 'elapse'.
'r'+'elapse'='RELAPSE'

'or' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for relapse that I've seen before include "go back" , "Return to sickness" , "Slip back to former state" , "Fail to maintain progress" , "Deterioration after period of improvement" .)

I've seen this clue in The Daily Express.
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