1
as in to unwind
to get rid of nervous tension or anxiety
she took deep breaths to relax before going on stage
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in to bask
to refrain from labor or exertion
I just want to kick back and relax after mowing that huge lawn
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of relax
The water is frigid during the spring, but visitors can still relax on the shoreline and play in the sand at Napatree Point, Watch Hill Beach and East Beach, which boasts views of the easternmost end of New York’s Long Island.
—
Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 23 Apr. 2026
The president also signed an executive order on Saturay that aims to boost research and relax restrictions on psychedelics, including the drug ibogaine, which is used in some countries to treat post-traumatic stress disorder.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026
For families Generous spaces, private pools, direct beach or lagoon access, and an exceptional team-to-guest ratio ensure that parents can relax knowing their kids are properly cared for.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
Gentle movement, like going for a walk, can steady your breathing and signal your body that’s it safe to relax.
—Lesly Gregory, AJC.com, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for relax
Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 23 Apr. 2026
The president also signed an executive order on Saturay that aims to boost research and relax restrictions on psychedelics, including the drug ibogaine, which is used in some countries to treat post-traumatic stress disorder.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026
For families Generous spaces, private pools, direct beach or lagoon access, and an exceptional team-to-guest ratio ensure that parents can relax knowing their kids are properly cared for.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
Gentle movement, like going for a walk, can steady your breathing and signal your body that’s it safe to relax.
—Lesly Gregory, AJC.com, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for relax
Recent Examples of Synonyms for relax
Verb
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There's nothing like an evening spent unwinding with friends around a fire pit.—
Tessa Cooper,
The Spruce,
25 Apr. 2026
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Policymakers should be focused on unwinding this deeply flawed legacy, not doubling down on it.—
Elaine Parker,
Oc Register,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Supreme Court loosened a provision of the Voting Rights Act that restricted redrawing congressional districts on the basis of race.—
Lia Russell,
Sacbee.com,
29 Apr. 2026
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Erdoğan centralized power around himself but also pushed for loosening the country’s borders and extending Turkey’s influence into the region—into Syria, Iraq, Libya, Azerbaijan, and beyond—as a crucial part of Turkey’s new mission and ideology.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Wildlife here is so prolific that guests aren’t permitted to walk about; rather they’re ferried about by safari vehicle, passing honking hippos, giant basking Nile crocodiles and huge numbers of butterflies and birds.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
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As humanity basks in the aftermath of the unprecedented success of Artemis II, which took humans back to the Moon for the first time in 54 years and brought them farther from Earth than ever before, many of us can’t help but think about grander goals.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Somebody who is just living greatness and never rests on that laurel, but is always pushing herself to expand as an artist.—
Lexi Lane,
PEOPLE,
27 Apr. 2026
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The whole security architecture rests on those layers.—
Shane Harris,
The Atlantic,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Free and Cozy Spots to Recharge When the budget is a factor or everyone just needs to decompress, head to the Seattle Public Library’s Central Branch.—
Lauren Schuster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
23 Apr. 2026
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What did the cast do to decompress after intense shoots in Cologne, Germany?—
Jack Smart,
PEOPLE,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Last week, the prosecution showed the jurors chilling video and audio evidence that included Athena’s last moments after Horner lured her inside the FedEx van.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
24 Apr. 2026
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One roach chilled inside a kitchen reach-in freezer.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Guests can now not only tick off both of the great apes with a two-stop trip, but also have plenty of other things to do in between—perhaps mountain biking and archery, or, for something more chilled out, basket weaving and coffee tasting.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 Apr. 2026
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What had seemed like a good way of chilling out was actually plunging me into a kind of crisis.—
Tim Parks,
New Yorker,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
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As the Biden administration wound down, executive orders were drafted that could have used the levers of CMS reimbursement to create meaningful incentives for hospitals to act.—
Joe Kiani,
Fortune,
24 Apr. 2026
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Historically, slipping ship times have been a pretty good indicator that a refresh is coming soon, as Apple winds down manufacturing for one device and ramps up production for another.—
Andrew Cunningham,
ArsTechnica,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Relax.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/relax. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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