as in relaxation
freedom from activity or labor
the waitstaff gets a welcome period of decompression between the lunch and dinner rushes
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Recent Examples of decompression
Found in translation In a way, human language acts as a compression and decompression scheme—the listener must decompress the meaning of words in the same way the speaker intended when encoding the message for them to be properly understood.
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ArsTechnica, 23 Sep. 2025
Plus, the unboxing and decompression was easy enough for Moon to set it up alone.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 22 Aug. 2025
After a briefing and gear setup, the first one-hour dive follows the main guideline, with optional deeper exploration afterward — some dives can reach nearly 200 feet (60 meters) and require decompression stops.
—Jennifer Walker, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2025
You were hospitalized twice for surgery or decompression (a procedure to relieve pressure from blockages).
—Health, 15 Aug. 2025
ArsTechnica, 23 Sep. 2025
Plus, the unboxing and decompression was easy enough for Moon to set it up alone.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 22 Aug. 2025
After a briefing and gear setup, the first one-hour dive follows the main guideline, with optional deeper exploration afterward — some dives can reach nearly 200 feet (60 meters) and require decompression stops.
—Jennifer Walker, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2025
You were hospitalized twice for surgery or decompression (a procedure to relieve pressure from blockages).
—Health, 15 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decompression
Noun
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Here’s hoping her time away allows the singer some rest and relaxation after too many hours in the spotlight.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
30 Sep. 2025
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Hamilton Chaise Sectional Sofa Made from a soft polyester blend, this couch has deep seats designed for ultimate relaxation.—
Jacqueline Tempera,
PEOPLE,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Prioritize your rest and peace of mind by being as honest as possible.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
1 Oct. 2025
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She was invited to join Unrivaled after her rookie season but elected for some rest after playing a full calendar year that started with her senior season in Iowa.—
Sabreena Merchant,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Decompression.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decompression. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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