as in pauses
a momentary halt in an activity
took a breather from the seemingly endless task of sorting through years of stuff stored in the attic
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Recent Examples of breathers
The show features fire jugglers and fire breathers.
—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
28 June 2026
The door handle was rearranged in order to accommodate the bigger breathers, and one resulting tradeoff is the awkward need to push with one hand while using another to open the door.
—
Basem Wasef,
Robb Report,
17 June 2026
For both air breathers and water breathers, many chemicals in crude oil target the heart and respiratory function, the immune system, the sensory system and the central nervous system.
—
Asuka Koda,
CNN Money,
17 Apr. 2026
Mouth breathers tend to carry their head forward to open the airway, a subtle shift that can become its own habitual pattern.
—
Allison Palmer,
Miami Herald,
25 Mar. 2026
Lopez or Joseph-Day would be a rotational run-stuffing nose tackle who could allow Walker to get some breathers or line up elsewhere.
—
Joe Buscaglia,
New York Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Its one-take formula is made to break you — there are no breathers, the intensity simply keeps building to its apex.
—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
11 Dec. 2025
One is called the 'wonderful whimsy,' (with) fire breathers, jugglers, tarot card readers.
—
Tony Peterson,
CBS News,
10 Dec. 2025
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
28 June 2026
The door handle was rearranged in order to accommodate the bigger breathers, and one resulting tradeoff is the awkward need to push with one hand while using another to open the door.
—
Basem Wasef,
Robb Report,
17 June 2026
For both air breathers and water breathers, many chemicals in crude oil target the heart and respiratory function, the immune system, the sensory system and the central nervous system.
—
Asuka Koda,
CNN Money,
17 Apr. 2026
Mouth breathers tend to carry their head forward to open the airway, a subtle shift that can become its own habitual pattern.
—
Allison Palmer,
Miami Herald,
25 Mar. 2026
Lopez or Joseph-Day would be a rotational run-stuffing nose tackle who could allow Walker to get some breathers or line up elsewhere.
—
Joe Buscaglia,
New York Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Its one-take formula is made to break you — there are no breathers, the intensity simply keeps building to its apex.
—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
11 Dec. 2025
One is called the 'wonderful whimsy,' (with) fire breathers, jugglers, tarot card readers.
—
Tony Peterson,
CBS News,
10 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for breathers
Noun
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The itinerary also builds in natural pauses, from ferries and viewpoints to kayaking, biking, hiking and fjord activities.
-
His health problems resembled a fall down a long flight of stairs, with pauses at several landings.
Noun
-
Atmospheric warming is diminishing wildfires’ nighttime lulls.
-
Yes, there were lulls, to be sure.
Noun
-
Five to 10 slow belly breaths activate what researchers call the thoraco-abdominal pump.
-
That might mean going for a walk or taking deep breaths to calm yourself down.
Noun
-
Players have medical staff, three-minute cooling breaks midway through each half, regardless of temperatures, and other heat safeguards.
-
People who must be outside are advised to drink plenty of fluids, take frequent rest breaks and stay in the shade when possible.
Cite this Entry
“Breathers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/breathers. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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