1
as in alcoves
a hollowed-out space in a wall
the curator placed the large vase in one of the recesses of the gallery wall
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in vacations
a period during which the usual routine of school or work is suspended
the couple goes to Florida every January for a month-long recess from the rigors of winter
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in pauses
a momentary halt in an activity
the judge called for a brief recess so that the witness could regain her composure
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in holes
a sunken area forming a separate space
decided to camp in a sandy recess where the beach met the forest
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in suspends
to bring to a formal close for a period of time
the judge recessed the court for lunch
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of recesses
Anand Gopal, New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2026
Doctrines and designs which a few years since could find no mouthpiece out of a bar-room, or the piratical den of a filibuster, are now clothed with power by the authentic response of the bench of our highest judicatory, and obsequiously iterated from the oracular recesses of the National Palace.
—Jake Lundberg, The Atlantic, 12 Feb. 2026
At the request of the art-loving owner, numerous areas have been designed as private galleries with special shelves for sculptures and recesses in the walls for paintings.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 11 Feb. 2026
Why are CEOs worrying so much about what recently were science projects within the deep recesses of their organizations?
—Joe McKendrick, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
In the recesses of the stadium, a doctor examined the right ankle of Bo Nix, the Broncos’ starting quarterback.
—Tim Rohan, NBC news, 24 Jan. 2026
The multiple polygonal recesses and panels and sharp creases throughout the lower half of the front-end are an uninvited reminder about how eager Toyota's design team seems to throw itself into absolute overwrought styling territory.
—New Atlas, 16 Jan. 2026
In Wisconsin's remote Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, Lake Superior crashes into rocky recesses, exploding against the walls and leaving frozen fingers.
—Ginger Crichton, Midwest Living, 9 Jan. 2026
Their debut album, Bergtatt (1995), released when singer Kristoffer Garm Rygg was 18, inspired a whole universe of nature-drunk folk metal; meanwhile, Nattens Madrigal (1997) is a prime example of the most scabrous and distortion-encrusted recesses of black metal.
—Daniel Bromfield, Pitchfork, 8 Jan. 2026
Noun
He was stuck deep in the recesses of shock and grief at the loss of the boy who’d labored by his side for so long, a boy who’d never harmed anyone and who had sat behind the wheel of that silver Saab from sunrise to sundown for the family.
—Anand Gopal, New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2026
Doctrines and designs which a few years since could find no mouthpiece out of a bar-room, or the piratical den of a filibuster, are now clothed with power by the authentic response of the bench of our highest judicatory, and obsequiously iterated from the oracular recesses of the National Palace.
—Jake Lundberg, The Atlantic, 12 Feb. 2026
At the request of the art-loving owner, numerous areas have been designed as private galleries with special shelves for sculptures and recesses in the walls for paintings.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 11 Feb. 2026
Why are CEOs worrying so much about what recently were science projects within the deep recesses of their organizations?
—Joe McKendrick, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
In the recesses of the stadium, a doctor examined the right ankle of Bo Nix, the Broncos’ starting quarterback.
—Tim Rohan, NBC news, 24 Jan. 2026
The multiple polygonal recesses and panels and sharp creases throughout the lower half of the front-end are an uninvited reminder about how eager Toyota's design team seems to throw itself into absolute overwrought styling territory.
—New Atlas, 16 Jan. 2026
In Wisconsin's remote Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, Lake Superior crashes into rocky recesses, exploding against the walls and leaving frozen fingers.
—Ginger Crichton, Midwest Living, 9 Jan. 2026
Their debut album, Bergtatt (1995), released when singer Kristoffer Garm Rygg was 18, inspired a whole universe of nature-drunk folk metal; meanwhile, Nattens Madrigal (1997) is a prime example of the most scabrous and distortion-encrusted recesses of black metal.
—Daniel Bromfield, Pitchfork, 8 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for recesses
Noun
-
Guests crunch through colorful seasonal salads, sip from an expansive wine list and dig into chef Alan Sternberg's inventive pasta dishes at snugly cloistered tables in wood and brick alcoves lined with paintings, books and even a handful of typewriters.—
USA TODAY NETWORK,
USA Today,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Elsewhere, the children’s bunkroom pairs two built-in bunks with two captain’s beds tucked in their own alcoves.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Their families go on extravagant vacations, drive luxury cars and wear designer clothes.—
Harriette Cole,
Mercury News,
28 Feb. 2026
-
But just 35 miles inland from the popular shoreline is the historic town of Milton which defies the traditional ideas of panhandle vacations.—
Kelsey Glennon,
Southern Living,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
And at one point Stephanie pauses, carefully choosing words.—
Gerald Witt,
AJC.com,
1 Mar. 2026
-
Audio deepfakes might include unnatural pauses or generate delays.—
Lauren Costantino,
Miami Herald,
28 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
What’s next is to keep looking for gaps or holes where certain processes need to be made more efficient.—
Karen Esquivel,
CNN Money,
1 Mar. 2026
-
That means expect bargain shopping, not whale hunting when free agency opens next week even though the roster has more holes than most offseasons.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
After a police officer has been charged with a felony, POST automatically suspends their certification.—
Colleen Cronin,
Boston Herald,
10 Feb. 2026
-
This mission hits a wall when the local gaming authority suspends all Hong Kong player accounts just weeks before a key tournament selection stage.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Yamamoto walked Addison Barger to place runners on the corners, setting up the game-ending double play by Kirk.—
Bill Shaikin,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Mar. 2026
-
From there, Harrison was hit by a pitch to put runners at the corners for Royo, who flew out to right field deep enough to drive the runner in.—
Tony Catalina,
Austin American Statesman,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
These included pop-ups at the Cala Maka beach club in Italy’s Apulia region and in tony summer destination Forte dei Marmi last summer, in addition to a monthlong unit inside Milan’s Fondazione Adolfo Pini last December for the Christmas holidays.—
Martino Carrera,
Footwear News,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Rescues often happen at inconvenient hours, like after dark, or on weekends and holidays when more people are outside.—
Jayme Moye,
Outside,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
There were some lulls in the second half of the season, but the Seahawks rounded into form toward the end of the regular season.—
Michael-Shawn Dugar,
New York Times,
15 Feb. 2026
-
The segment was a gloriously chaotic tribute to Italy’s successes across the arts, and carried the tone even through slower lulls like a call for peace by rapper Ghali, featuring the aforementioned Theron cameo.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Recesses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/recesses. Accessed 5 Mar. 2026.
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