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
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 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
Kelley Bruss, Dallas Morning News, 26 Feb. 2026
Decluttering surfaces and refreshing your closet will also help create a more restful environment.
—ABC News, 25 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
Instead of decorative mulch that requires refreshing, Bigham has been incorporating river rock or gravel into flower beds.
—Kelley Bruss, Dallas Morning News, 26 Feb. 2026
Decluttering surfaces and refreshing your closet will also help create a more restful environment.
—ABC News, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for refreshing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refreshing
Adjective
-
The break was long and torturous for fans but clearly restorative for Styles, who lolled in the Italian countryside with Alessandro Michele, bonded with a new niece, and found himself unassumingly among the masses in the Vatican when the conclave elected Pope Leo XIV last June.—
Michelle Ruiz,
Vogue,
6 Mar. 2026
-
With unspoiled beaches, gentle Gulf waters, and sunset skies, Sanibel channels one of Florida’s most restorative weekend escapes.—
Carrie Honaker,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
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
-
In Queens, check out the art at MoMA PS1 or spend an afternoon eating your way through Astoria or Flushing, known for standout Greek and Chinese cuisine, respectively.—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Many studies suggest that eating breakfast earlier may help regulate blood sugar.—
Merve Ceylan,
Health,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
There’s a hot tub, dining spots and more.—
Moira McCarthy,
Boston Herald,
4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
American ginseng has a slightly different chemical makeup and is considered less stimulating than its Asian counterpart.—
PubSubHub User,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Feb. 2026
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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 9 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
