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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in relaxation
freedom from activity or labor
the waitstaff gets a welcome period of decompression between the lunch and dinner rushes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of decompress
Maya Kachroo-Levine, Travel + Leisure, 13 Jan. 2026
And sometimes this gathering spot is where guests go to take phone calls or to decompress and chat with people one-on-one.
—R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 13 Jan. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for decompress
Verb
Hike through the rain forest to see native wildlife and waterfalls, then decompress with a yoga class or in your ocean-view bungalow.
—Maya Kachroo-Levine, Travel + Leisure, 13 Jan. 2026
And sometimes this gathering spot is where guests go to take phone calls or to decompress and chat with people one-on-one.
—R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 13 Jan. 2026
Noun
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.
—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
See All Example Sentences for decompress
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decompress
Verb
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Sleep disturbances While marijuana’s mild sedating and relaxing effects can sometimes help people who have difficulty falling asleep, experts say there are several important things to consider before using it as a sleep aid.—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
30 Jan. 2026
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Protect the nest and set kind rules everyone understands, because clarity gives you strength while your intuition helps the household relax.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Before treatments, guests can recline indoors with homemade lavender popcorn or enjoy sitting outside in the charming relaxation space filled with herbs and flowers.—
Asonta Benetti,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Jan. 2026
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In addition, some herbal teas may help reduce stress, promote relaxation, or improve digestion.—
Ann Pietrangelo,
Verywell Health,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
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On rest days, consider doing other forms of light exercise.—
Jamie Friedlander Serrano,
Time,
3 Feb. 2026
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If a little rest, relaxation, and rejuvenation are in order, the new Alila Mayakoba will be an excellent choice for an adult getaway.—
Beth Luberecki,
USA Today,
3 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Decompress.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decompress. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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