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
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
Everything froze in time until the ball crashed against the foul pole and kicked back into the playing field, making the stadium sound like the old place across the street sounded in the dynastic nineties.
—Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
The music cut out, leaving the three of them to deliver powerful harmonies before the band kicked back in.
—Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 5 Oct. 2025
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
Everything froze in time until the ball crashed against the foul pole and kicked back into the playing field, making the stadium sound like the old place across the street sounded in the dynastic nineties.
—Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
The music cut out, leaving the three of them to deliver powerful harmonies before the band kicked back in.
—Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 5 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kicked back
Verb
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In person she’s relaxed yet focused, clearly a pro at doing interviews but still refreshingly candid.—
Stephanie McNeal,
Glamour,
17 Feb. 2026
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The ban was finally relaxed when Superior Court Judge Andrew Meyer in Boston first ruled that the documentary could be shown to the general public if faces were blurred, then, in 1991, lifted all restrictions.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Flowers and balloons rested in front of the Jackson home, similar to that of those left at Rainbow PUSH headquarters Tuesday.—
Darcel Rockett,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Feb. 2026
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The South Africans rested David Miller, frontline spinner Keshav Maharaj, Marco Jansen and Lungi Ngidi, who was voted player of the match in the thriller against Afghanistan.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The Mayor ad-libbed gamely, the children basked in adult attention, and, as the proceedings concluded, Shapiro-Barnum started to clap.—
Molly Fischer,
New Yorker,
19 Feb. 2026
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In the decade to come, Jackson basked in celebrity and international travel, including a controversial meeting with Yasser Arafat.—
Johanna Neuman,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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One of the things that have been kicked around is a one-time 5% tax on billionaires.—
Nicole Nixon,
Sacbee.com,
6 Jan. 2026
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As the college football season winds down, Penn State is still operating with an interim head coach after the dismissal of James Franklin, and Roethlisberger kicked around the idea of Tomlin heading to Happy Valley to take over that program.—
Patrick Damp,
CBS News,
3 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Serve at room temperature or slightly chilled.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
15 Feb. 2026
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Serve chilled or warm the rice pudding in a saucepan over medium-low heat, adding more milk as needed to loosen the mixture.—
Robin Miller,
AZCentral.com,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Every one of the NFL’s 32 teams has played a regular-season game outside the United States and is signed up to the league’s Global Markets Program.—
Tom Chitty,
CNBC,
15 Feb. 2026
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Savolainen played a huge role in Finland’s historic run in the 2019 hockey women’s world championship, in which the country made it to the final against the United States who, along with Canada, had previously dominated the competition and its gold medal matches.—
Hannah Ryan,
CNN Money,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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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
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I'mPhaedra Trethan, bummed out about the passing of Raul Malo, lead singer of The Mavericks.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
9 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Over at the three tiers of pools during a late spring weekend visit, couples in stylish swimsuits lounged around the adult’s only pool, groups of friends sipped margs while wading in the main Mother-of-Pearl pool, and kids frolicked in the separate splash pad area.—
Lizbeth Scordo,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Jan. 2026
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In a series of photos, Lopez lounged in a strapless lilac number featuring a floor-length skirt that looked as if it were made of flower petals.—
Hannah Malach,
InStyle,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Kicked back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kicked%20back. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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