KICKING BACK Synonyms: 83 Similar and Opposite Words

kicking back

verb

present participle of kick back

as in resting

to refrain from labor or exertion I plan to spend the day kicking back and watching television

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in hanging (around or out)

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

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 kicking back Vikings right tackle Brian O'Neill and left guard Donovan Jackson immediately turned toward the sideline to motion for the medical team, with Murray lying on his side and his legs kicking back and forth. — ABC News, 13 Sep. 2026 Downstairs, a dedicated lounge features a multi-screen entertainment setup, creating the perfect spot for game days, movie nights or simply kicking back with family and friends. — Doris Alvarez Cea, Florida Times-Union, 17 Aug. 2026 And don’t forget to grab a few pieces for simply kicking back and relaxing. — Jasmine Gomez, Travel + Leisure, 14 Aug. 2026 Before the fire, patrons were kicking back cold ones about a block from Down the Hatch. — David Dickstein, Oc Register, 5 Aug. 2026 But instead of kicking back, Nadal’s been busy building a hotel empire. — Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 7 July 2026 Maybe that means kicking back by the pool with a refreshing summer drink in hand or treating yourself to a creative spin on a classic hot dog from one of these five Atlanta spots. — Nicole Bennett, AJC.com, 4 July 2026 Here’s an outdoor lounge chair that naturally supports kicking back with a matching ottoman. — Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 23 June 2026 There’s something about just kicking back at home, watching the matches with loved ones, and pulling out some games that center on sports. — Lynnette Nicholas, Parents, 10 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for kicking back

Verb

Who then might be a match for title holders who benefit from resting players in 18-club Ligue 1 and having a fresh team for the back-end of the Champions League each season?

— James Horncastle, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
The aircraft appeared to be resting on its belly and was largely intact despite the fire.

— Staff And Wire Reports, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of resting

Verb

President James Garfield’s assassin, Charles Guiteau, died by hanging about five months after he was convicted of murder.

— USA Today, USA Today, 17 June 2026
In 2019, city employees began hanging about 500 trick-or-treat pumpkin buckets in the trees on Main Street every October.

— Elliott Harrell, Travel + Leisure, 18 Oct. 2025

Definition of hanging about

Verb

Meanwhile, by relaxing the rules around third-party apps, WordPress now offers more power, flexibility, and options to expand your site's capabilities than Webflow does.

— Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 14 Sep. 2026
But there are plenty of in-house attractions, too, from the art-gallery-style collection of contemporary works to the relaxing rooftop pool to the modern Restaurant H3.

— Morgan Goldberg, Architectural Digest, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of relaxing

Verb

The fantasy of a cultural architecture that’s as flexible as culture itself has been kicking around for more than 100 years, and there’s something obscurely disappointing about seeing a technocratic version get put into practice.

— Justin Davidson, Curbed, 29 July 2026
Within the venue gates but outside the stands, groups of friends were playing cornhole and having picnic dinners from food trucks parked onsite; older attendees were chatting and kids were kicking around mini soccer balls.

— Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 7 July 2026

Definition of kicking around

Verb

The most basic building block is warmer water temperatures, which peak in September after basking in summer’s heat, and provide fuel for storms to form and strengthen.

— Chris Dolce, CNN Money, 31 Aug. 2026
After a summer spent outdoors basking in the sun, houseplants can struggle to adjust to life indoors.

— Rachel Gillett, Martha Stewart, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of basking

Verb

Up top, a large rooftop deck is the star of the show, offering plenty of space for lounging or entertaining with a beautiful backdrop.

— Tori Latham, Robb Report, 14 Sep. 2026
Deutch can be seen lounging around a Tribeca loft, layering T-shirts and knits and stepping out in the trench.

— Angela Tafoya, Vogue, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of lounging

Verb

Working with Nic was like driving a Lamborghini that could shift from unbreakable speed to idling like a purring lioness.

— Griffin Dunne, Vanity Fair, 11 Sep. 2026
If drivers are caught idling, a picture of their license plate will be taken and they will be charged a $100 fine.

— Marissa Sulek, CBS News, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of idling

Browse Nearby Words

kicking around

kicking back

kicking butt

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Kicking back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kicking%20back. Accessed 17 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of kicking back

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

watershed

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Popular in Wordplay

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 18

Popular

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Games & Quizzes