as in restorative
having a renewing effect on the state of the body or mind
the cool wind off the ocean is refreshing on such a hot day
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in restoring
to bring back to a former condition or vigor
brought out some iced tea to refresh the spirits of the folks working out in the sun
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in eating
to take a meal
we were looking for a family-friendly restaurant where we could sit down and refresh before continuing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of refreshing
Malavika Kannan, Vulture, 3 Mar. 2026
These are all refreshing correctives to the texts that previously stood in for contemporary Japan internationally, including any number of small volumes about magical cafés, bookshops, or libraries, often with cats on their covers.
—Sarah Chihaya, New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2026
Peg Aloi, The Spruce, 11 Feb. 2026
Aside from layoffs and cost-cutting, Adamolekun also plans to give Red Lobster a facelift by improving the restaurant’s ambiance, refreshing its menu, and remodeling its restaurants.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for refreshing
Adjective
In one reading, Louise’s terrorist arc is a refreshing subversion of the political correctness of Cash’s millennial forebears, the Patricia Lockwoods and Sally Rooneys and Sheila Hetis of the world, who might never dream of straying from their lane of lived experience.
—Malavika Kannan, Vulture, 3 Mar. 2026
These are all refreshing correctives to the texts that previously stood in for contemporary Japan internationally, including any number of small volumes about magical cafés, bookshops, or libraries, often with cats on their covers.
—Sarah Chihaya, New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2026
Verb
Then, refreshing the water and flower food every two days can extend the life of your roses.
—Peg Aloi, The Spruce, 11 Feb. 2026
Aside from layoffs and cost-cutting, Adamolekun also plans to give Red Lobster a facelift by improving the restaurant’s ambiance, refreshing its menu, and remodeling its restaurants.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for refreshing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refreshing
Adjective
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And after a long day of trekking, there’s nothing so restorative as a dip in the opulent bathtub, fringed by bricks of pink salt from Pakistan, while gazing out at the Nilgiri glowing ethereally in the dusk.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 Feb. 2026
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When you’re all skied out, drive out to Valle Crucis for a restorative afternoon at River Birch Nordic Sauna.—
Lydia Mansel,
Southern Living,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The opera ends with Akhnaten’s son, presumably Tutankhamun, restoring polytheism, and then, once the staging jumps millennia into the future, it’s rediscovered by modern-day tourists.—
Classical Music Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
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If the matter-antimatter asymmetry arose due to a breaking of a certain cosmic symmetry at a higher energy, then restoring the symmetry could lead to that symmetry re-breaking in a different fashion.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The eighth grader stopped eating after finding a worm in her food, family members said.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
1 Mar. 2026
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Such a partial bypass of the hydropower turbines delivers water cold enough to keep non-native bass from breeding and then eating threatened humpback chubs.—
Brandon Loomis,
AZCentral.com,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Fissures have emerged on the right, with longtime allies questioning the scope and purpose of the campaign, reviving the anti-interventionist strain that once defined the MAGA movement.—
Eric Cortellessa,
Time,
5 Mar. 2026
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Friday marks the 550th anniversary of Michelangelo’s birth and there are a number of exhibits, conferences and commemorations that are reviving attention about his genius and legacy.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The dishes coming out of the kitchen (created by Castell, approved by Alléno) are mostly fine-dining classics, but what's lacking in conceptual creativity is more than made up for in execution.—
Abbey Stone,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
4 Mar. 2026
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There’s a hot tub, dining spots and more.—
Moira McCarthy,
Boston Herald,
4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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American ginseng has a slightly different chemical makeup and is considered less stimulating than its Asian counterpart.—
PubSubHub User,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Feb. 2026
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Despite the name, kava tea contains no actual tea leaves and doesn’t have the stimulating effect of caffeine.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The limited series introduces a new generation of viewers to one of the most beloved and intriguing couples of the ‘90s, recreating the definitive moments of their romance in the years before their deaths in a 1999 plane crash.—
InStyle Editors,
InStyle,
27 Feb. 2026
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Grand County Search and Rescue crews said this incident is a good reminder for all backcountry enthusiasts to carry proper avalanche safety gear (Beacon/Shovel/Probe) when recreating in winter terrain.—
Jennifer McRae,
CBS News,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Soon after, videos surfaced showing Patel, in a long-sleeve white USA shirt, partaking in the festive locker room celebration.—
Eric Tucker,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Feb. 2026
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Though the resort has only been open for a few years, guests who pop in for a soak are partaking in a tradition that spans centuries.—
Cu Fleshman,
Travel + Leisure,
23 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Refreshing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refreshing. Accessed 7 Mar. 2026.
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