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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of breathers
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
While the games themselves won’t go away, one change may be the timing of them, especially the SEC’s late-season, collective breathers.
—Seth Emerson, New York Times, 19 Nov. 2025
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
While the games themselves won’t go away, one change may be the timing of them, especially the SEC’s late-season, collective breathers.
—Seth Emerson, New York Times, 19 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for breathers
Noun
-
The other performances are equally remote — this is the kind of a movie where nobody talks over anybody else’s lines, with steady pauses between each piece of dialogue — keeping the viewer at a certain distance.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Funding was eventually restored after a series of lawsuits challenging payment pauses, eligibility requirements, and requests from the federal government for sensitive citizen data.—
Isa Almeida,
Oklahoman,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
There were some lulls in the second half of the season, but the Seahawks rounded into form toward the end of the regular season.—
Michael-Shawn Dugar,
New York Times,
15 Feb. 2026
-
The segment was a gloriously chaotic tribute to Italy’s successes across the arts, and carried the tone even through slower lulls like a call for peace by rapper Ghali, featuring the aforementioned Theron cameo.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The following three categories of exercises emphasize a focus on rib and spinal movement powered by slow, deep, diaphragmatic breaths.—
Dana Santas,
CNN Money,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Similarly, the heart rate of a hibernating groundhog slows from about 80 beats per minute to just five, while breathing slows from around 16 breaths per minute to as few as two, according to the National Wildlife Federation.—
Kate Perez,
USA Today,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
John Merryman Redondo Beach As the NBA season breaks for All-Star weekend, there is one player who is single-handedly leading his fractured team to victory after victory, with his great scoring, passing and stout defense.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2026
-
When workers asked politicians in Miami-Dade County for a measure that would ensure basic protections like water and breaks, it was derailed by construction and agriculture lobbyists.—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
14 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Breathers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/breathers. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
