1
as in relaxed
to refrain from labor or exertion
I plan to spend the day kicking back and watching television
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hacked (around)
to spend time doing nothing
a good resort for people who want to kick back and watch others exercise strenuously
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of kicked back
Studies have shown how lead particles that fell to the ground were kicked back up into the air again where people could inhale them, along with other contaminants.
—
Armin Sorooshian, The Conversation, 16 Mar. 2026
Cher’s adult son Elijah Blue Allman busted into a New Hampshire home over the weekend, and then kicked back on the couch with a cigarette, police said.
—Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 3 Mar. 2026
Although the regionalization had led to a deceleration in the growth of shipping costs throughout 2024 as the Everything Store aggressively embarked on its cost-cutting crusade, these expenses kicked back up into high gear throughout the 2025 fiscal year.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 6 Feb. 2026
Even if Senate Republicans conceded to breaking up the funding package, the bills would be kicked back to the House of Representatives, which is on a weeklong recess.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 29 Jan. 2026
But even if Senate Republicans conceded to breaking up the funding package, the bills would be kicked back to the House of Representatives, which is on a weeklong recess.
—Lori Comstock, The Providence Journal, 29 Jan. 2026
Gatlin paid an Atlanta audiovisual contractor $2 million, who then kicked back $1 million to her, according to court records.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 12 Dec. 2025
Conley drove, kicked back to Edwards, who hit Reid in the corner.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 7 Dec. 2025
Over a bite to eat, everybody kicked back and chatted it up a little.
—Jay Glennie, Rolling Stone, 28 Oct. 2025
Armin Sorooshian, The Conversation, 16 Mar. 2026
Cher’s adult son Elijah Blue Allman busted into a New Hampshire home over the weekend, and then kicked back on the couch with a cigarette, police said.
—Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 3 Mar. 2026
Although the regionalization had led to a deceleration in the growth of shipping costs throughout 2024 as the Everything Store aggressively embarked on its cost-cutting crusade, these expenses kicked back up into high gear throughout the 2025 fiscal year.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 6 Feb. 2026
Even if Senate Republicans conceded to breaking up the funding package, the bills would be kicked back to the House of Representatives, which is on a weeklong recess.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 29 Jan. 2026
But even if Senate Republicans conceded to breaking up the funding package, the bills would be kicked back to the House of Representatives, which is on a weeklong recess.
—Lori Comstock, The Providence Journal, 29 Jan. 2026
Gatlin paid an Atlanta audiovisual contractor $2 million, who then kicked back $1 million to her, according to court records.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 12 Dec. 2025
Conley drove, kicked back to Edwards, who hit Reid in the corner.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 7 Dec. 2025
Over a bite to eat, everybody kicked back and chatted it up a little.
—Jay Glennie, Rolling Stone, 28 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kicked back
Verb
-
Camila experiences it while getting high, or at least relaxed, a steady stream of joints helping to reduce her anxiety.—
Bill Goodykoontz,
AZCentral.com,
31 Mar. 2026
-
If this wasn’t anxious, it was hardly relaxed.—
Giles Harvey,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But he’s never rested on those past accomplishments, either.—
Sam McDowell,
Kansas City Star,
2 Apr. 2026
-
After the state rested its case, prosecutors pointed to Emile Konig’s testimony as a critical piece of evidence supporting their narrative of what happened.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Chanting in celebration, Illinois fans basked in a second-round victory in the tournament over Virginia Commonwealth University.—
Victor Jacobo,
CBS News,
22 Mar. 2026
-
Another 1-0 defeat at Villa, where the home supporters basked in Newcastle’s misery — nobody does schadenfreude quite like football fans — ended the club’s 16-year stay in the top flight.—
Stuart James,
New York Times,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
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People were kicked around in the pit, pancaked at the front of the stage, and the crowd surfing had a 90% fail rate.—
Deborah Sengupta Stith,
Austin American Statesman,
17 Mar. 2026
-
The bestselling novelist specializes in women who have been kicked around by life.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In this dense, sparkling web of pipes, tanks, and cooling towers spread over 500 acres, natural gas drawn from around the US is chilled to roughly the surface temperature of the dark side of the moon, liquefied, and pumped into tankers that carry it to the global market.—
Tim McDonnell,
semafor.com,
31 Mar. 2026
-
In those pioneer days of electric home refrigeration, everyone’s favorite new kitchen appliance relied on highly toxic, flammable, or corrosive gases to keep food chilled.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Timberwolves also played without starting forward Jaden McDaniels (right knee soreness) and guard Ayo Dosunmu (right calf soreness).—
CBS News,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Neither Green nor Booker played in the fourth quarter as the Suns cruised to the victory.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Rittenhouse admits to initially being bummed out to not be the murderer, only to quickly come around to preferring this outcome.—
Derek Lawrence,
HollywoodReporter,
12 Jan. 2026
-
I'mPhaedra Trethan, bummed out about the passing of Raul Malo, lead singer of The Mavericks.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
9 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Nearby, people and their dogs who had moved into the shelter for the duration of the war lounged on air mattresses, scrolling through their phones.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Just days after hard-launching her relationship with French filmmaker Romain Gavras, EmRata lounged in a plunging plush white robe while wearing nothing but some sparkling loud luxury accessories.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Kicked back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kicked%20back. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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