Synonyms of decompress

decompress

verb

ˌdē-kəm-ˈpres 

as in to relax

to get rid of nervous tension or anxiety

after she gets home from work, she needs some time to decompress before preparing dinner

Synonyms & Similar Words

• relax
• unwind
• chill
• rest
• de-stress
• wind down
• loosen up
• hang loose
• chill out
• compose
• mellow (out)
• bask
• settle
• unbend
• relieve
• lounge
• alleviate
• calm
• vegetate
• repose
• comfort
• idle
• kick back
• ease
• laze
• cool
• bum
• hang (around or out)
• quiet
• loll
• dawdle
• goof (off)
• hack (around)
• drone
• loaf
• veg out
• dillydally
• zone out
• footle
• dally

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• tense (up)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of decompress

Wagner took an additional two-three weeks to rehab the calf strain after the season ended before taking some time off to decompress. — Jason Beede, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Sep. 2026

Fresh off the Carolina Herrera runway, Karlie Kloss had changed into a sleek white and black ensemble and soon found a seat near the back of the restaurant to decompress. — Leigh Nordstrom, Footwear News, 15 Sep. 2026

During his professional whirlwind the last handful of years, Cregger often decompresses with video games, and the Resident Evil franchise, particularly Resident Evil 4, has been one of his go-tos. — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 10 Sep. 2026

Translation, these spaces are for meeting people, not just decompressing after work. — Ashley Lynch, Charlotte Observer, 3 Sep. 2026