as in relaxing
to get rid of nervous tension or anxiety
not being one for alcoholic beverages, I prefer to wind down with a cup of tea every night
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Recent Examples of winding down
After winding down the Catalog, Brand spent the ensuing decades looking for this kind of shortcut.
—
Alec Nevala-Lee, The Atlantic, 23 Apr. 2026
Now the debate seems to be winding down with the latest experimental measurements, described in two recent papers published in the journals Nature and Physical Review Letters, respectively.
—ArsTechnica, 14 Apr. 2026
Last week, oil prices dropped more than 12% on hopes that the Islamabad talks would lead to an off-ramp for the administration to start winding down the war.
—Steve Kopack, NBC news, 12 Apr. 2026
When the White House proposed winding down SLS and the Orion spacecraft after just three flights in its budget request to Congress last May, lobbyists from contractors like Boeing and Lockheed Martin flooded Capitol Hill.
—Sana Pashankar, Fortune, 11 Apr. 2026
With the game winding down, Casey Mittelstadt was stripped of the puck by Brayden Point along the boards, a spot where Mittelstadt has been so good this year.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 11 Apr. 2026
As the action was winding down, the sixth chair was placed.
—Jane Bua, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
Look for an open man with the clock winding down.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 5 Apr. 2026
Instead, the outcome might end up along the lines of a no lose/no lose, winding down of hostilities.
—Daniel Kurtzer, New York Daily News, 5 Apr. 2026
Alec Nevala-Lee, The Atlantic, 23 Apr. 2026
Now the debate seems to be winding down with the latest experimental measurements, described in two recent papers published in the journals Nature and Physical Review Letters, respectively.
—ArsTechnica, 14 Apr. 2026
Last week, oil prices dropped more than 12% on hopes that the Islamabad talks would lead to an off-ramp for the administration to start winding down the war.
—Steve Kopack, NBC news, 12 Apr. 2026
When the White House proposed winding down SLS and the Orion spacecraft after just three flights in its budget request to Congress last May, lobbyists from contractors like Boeing and Lockheed Martin flooded Capitol Hill.
—Sana Pashankar, Fortune, 11 Apr. 2026
With the game winding down, Casey Mittelstadt was stripped of the puck by Brayden Point along the boards, a spot where Mittelstadt has been so good this year.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 11 Apr. 2026
As the action was winding down, the sixth chair was placed.
—Jane Bua, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
Look for an open man with the clock winding down.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 5 Apr. 2026
Instead, the outcome might end up along the lines of a no lose/no lose, winding down of hostilities.
—Daniel Kurtzer, New York Daily News, 5 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for winding down
Verb
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And with its options for kayaking, standup paddleboarding, sailing, and waterskiing—plus a boardwalk for strolling and sandy beaches for relaxing—Mission Bay Park is a great spot for active families.—
Kara Williams,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2026
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Meander the historic district, then break out your boats or find a picnic bench along the shore to take in a few relaxing hours in LaGrange.—
Carolanne Griffith Roberts,
Southern Living,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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After the ceasefire, oil prices plunged and bond yields fell, loosening up some of the cost crunch for consumers and businesses alike.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
10 Apr. 2026
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Dulude suggests loosening up the food particles on the microwave walls by placing a bowl of water inside with half a lemon and using a high setting to boil the water.—
Lori Keong,
Architectural Digest,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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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
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If holiday burnout has you in the mood for rest and relaxation, the star advises taking a break to enjoy one of her favorite holiday traditions—chilling out at home with the family.—
Essence,
Essence,
15 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Winding down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/winding%20down. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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