1
as in to unwind
to get rid of nervous tension or anxiety
she took deep breaths to relax before going on stage
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in to bask
to refrain from labor or exertion
I just want to kick back and relax after mowing that huge lawn
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of relax
Extending your exhales longer than your inhales helps relax the nervous system and reduce protective muscle tension, allowing your pelvis, rib cage and spine to settle into a less rigid, more aligned position.
—
Dana Santas, CNN Money, 30 Jan. 2026
Among the launches for loungewear, Chantelle introduced a range of lightweight bras intended for relaxing at home.
—Alex Wynne, Footwear News, 30 Jan. 2026
Okay girl, relax a little will ya?
—Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
But their vacation there will surely be far from relaxing.
—Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for relax
Dana Santas, CNN Money, 30 Jan. 2026
Among the launches for loungewear, Chantelle introduced a range of lightweight bras intended for relaxing at home.
—Alex Wynne, Footwear News, 30 Jan. 2026
Okay girl, relax a little will ya?
—Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
But their vacation there will surely be far from relaxing.
—Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for relax
Recent Examples of Synonyms for relax
Verb
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Evenings are low-key, whether that means gallery hopping near the historical Taos Plaza (don’t miss the Taos Artist Collective), savoring hatch chile–spiked New Mexican dishes at spots like La Cueva Café and Michael’s Kitchen, or unwinding at wine bars such as Corner Office and Barra Vino.—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
31 Jan. 2026
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Raffles Udaipur Udaipur has plenty of palatial stays, but the Raffles Udaipur captures the opulence of this historic kingdom, while giving guests an opportunity to fully unwind.—
Jennifer Flowers,
AFAR Media,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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After reaching the ship’s location, the Coast Guard icebreaker made multiple close passes through the surrounding ice to loosen the frozen pack.—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
28 Jan. 2026
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Experts who were asked to review the changes by NPR agreed that the net effect was to loosen the standards.—
Geoff Brumfiel,
NPR,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But Florida, basking in warmth this weekend with highs that shoot into the 80s, can look to the cold weather in other states as a taste of what’s to come.—
Howard Cohen,
Miami Herald,
23 Jan. 2026
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But there’s a reason that the Ranch’s Ocean Rooms and Coast Suites are particularly popular, with their private patios outfitted with a basking tub for two (set to your preferred temperature), and of course, expansive views of the ocean and coastline.—
Lauren Sloss,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The Warriors were playing without starters Stephen Curry (knee) and Draymond Green (back), while Minnesota's Anthony Edwards was a late scratch to rest a recurring right foot injury.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
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Another reason is that sectors of the US economy continue to rest on an implicit bargain between the government, employers, and migrants.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The dining room has a lovely ambiance and is great for a date night or just meeting friends to decompress.—
Jess Fleming,
Twin Cities,
22 Jan. 2026
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Plan time to decompress after family interactions.—
Jenna Ryu,
SELF,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Place in separate airtight containers; chill up to 5 days.—
Jenavieve Christensen,
Better Homes & Gardens,
31 Jan. 2026
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The point is to intimidate and chill lawful newsgathering.—
Brian Stelter,
CNN Money,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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As the cake chills out, add fresh raspberries to a blender pitcher and purée until smooth.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 Jan. 2026
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The stand collar is ideal for keeping the chill out, too, while a water-resistant fabric sloughs off rain and snow with ease.—
Michelle Tchea,
Travel + Leisure,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The nerves that Landfair had been suppressing only show as the interview winds down, letting out a relieved and shaky breath after answering the last question.—
Cheyenne Roundtree,
Rolling Stone,
31 Jan. 2026
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Trump’s border advisor, Tom Homan, announced Thursday that federal authorities would wind down immigration crackdowns in Minnesota, but only if agents were given access to jails to seize undocumented immigrants for deportation.—
Hannah Fry,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Relax.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/relax. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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