relaxation

noun

ˌrē-ˌlak-ˈsā-shən How to pronounce relaxation (audio)
Definition of relaxationnext
1
as in recreation
activity engaged in to amuse oneself what do people in this jerkwater town do for relaxation?

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in rest
freedom from activity or labor meditating in a state of total relaxation

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 relaxation The property was designed to bring families together with plenty of space for both private relaxation and communal activities. — Mary Holland, Travel + Leisure, 18 July 2026 Chamomile contains apigenin, an antioxidant that may bind to certain brain receptors linked to relaxation. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson july 17, Miami Herald, 17 July 2026 Magnesium helps regulate neurotransmitters involved in sleep and supports muscle relaxation. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson july 17, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 July 2026 Parents don’t need to feel guilty if their teens aren’t constantly busy—unstructured time can foster self-reflection and relaxation. — Melissa Willets, Parents, 16 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for relaxation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for relaxation
  1. recreation
  2. rest
  3. fun
  4. leisure
  5. entertainment
  6. resting
  7. enjoyment
  8. amusement
Noun
  • Her administration has invested in closing critical gaps, improving connectivity, and expanding access to outdoor recreation across the state.
    — Andrew Kimball, New York Daily News, 19 July 2026
  • Bit by bit—which is the way with walls—my interest and knowledge deepened until what had begun as recreation morphed into a hobby job, mending other people’s walls.
    — Matt Seaton, The Atlantic, 19 July 2026
Definition of recreation
Noun
  • Rodri had the best World Cup of anybody, officially, though there will be City fans who would have preferred him to have gone out in the quarter-finals and had some extra rest before the new season.
    — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 24 July 2026
  • While more research is needed to determine how much these beverages can directly improve sleep, their popularity highlights a growing interest in simple nighttime rituals designed to help people relax and transition into rest.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson July 24, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 July 2026
Definition of rest
Noun
  • Also, the texture, shapes and colors of the candy make for a fun experience to sample, pick and mix up your own bag.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 July 2026
  • The cruise concludes in Fort Lauderdale, but the fun doesn’t have to.
    — Tracey Teo, AJC.com, 23 July 2026
Definition of fun
Noun
  • For the typical leisure traveler, price and total travel time are the metrics that drive booking decisions, according to Jeff Galak, associate professor of marketing at Carnegie Mellon University's Tepper School of Business.
    — Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 25 July 2026
  • This suggests something deeper in American culture that has made leisure reading seem less desirable or less valuable.
    — John Warner, Chicago Tribune, 25 July 2026
Definition of leisure
Noun
  • Though Wasserman hasn’t been charged with any crime, the exchanges took place before Maxwell had been charged with any wrongdoing, and the LA28 board backed Wasserman, the entertainment mogul sold his agency after several prominent artists fled.
    — Barry Svrluga, New York Times, 24 July 2026
  • The fifth-floor suite includes a custom bar sink and entertainment nook ready-made for gatherings.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 July 2026
Definition of entertainment
Noun
  • The west is symbolic of death in mythology, but also connected to the land of Elysium, the final resting place for Greek heroes.
    — Tanya Fedak, Variety, 18 July 2026
  • When Princess Ita’s final resting place was first excavated by French archeologist Jacques de Morgan in the late 1800s, Ita was somewhat of an afterthought, Hashesh says.
    — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 17 July 2026
Definition of resting
Noun
  • No one forces us to perform the role, the financial rewards for those who make the international list are considerable, and for the most part the enjoyment found on the field makes up for the plentiful aggro off it.
    — Graham Scott, New York Times, 23 July 2026
  • Under long-standing gift tax principles, gifts that postpone the beneficiary’s present use or enjoyment are typically treated as gifts of a future interest.
    — Virginia La Torre Jeker, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
Definition of enjoyment
Noun
  • Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun, a combined amusement and water park that makes an easy add-on to any early season game-day itinerary.
    — Taylor Haught, Kansas City Star, 24 July 2026
  • Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson posted a selfie alongside his teammate Arvid Lindblad on an EasyJet flight out of Belgium last Sunday, sparking amusement among fans who had not expected two F1 drivers to put faith in the budget airline.
    — Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 24 July 2026
Definition of amusement

Browse Nearby Words

relaxant
relaxation
relaxed
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Cite this Entry

“Relaxation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/relaxation. Accessed 27 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on relaxation

Nglish: Translation of relaxation for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about relaxation

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