RELAX Synonyms: 86 Similar and Opposite Words

relax

verb

ri-ˈlaks

Definition of relax

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

tense (up)

as in to loosen

to make less taut relax the rope a bit so I can pick up the slack and tie this knot

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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 relax Nora is stuttery; Michael is relaxed; Saeed is nervous; Johnny is cooler than ice. — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 6 Nov. 2026 His face is relaxed, his features at rest, his mouth and eyelids closed. — Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2026 Summer means sunny days relaxing in the yard and enjoying the look and feel of your lush, verdant lawn. — Alexandra Jones, The Spruce, 5 Nov. 2026 Ippolito has an easy charm and nonchalance about him, possibly due to being jet-lagged and sleep-deprived, but his general vibe is relaxed. — Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2026 See All Example Sentences for relax

Recent Examples of Synonyms for relax

Verb

That creates risk when the grid is most stressed — a hot summer afternoon and a bone-chilling polar vortex.

— H. Russell Frisby, Baltimore Sun, 2 Nov. 2026
Transfer to a wire rack; let cool at least 3 hours, or, preferably, chill 12 hours.

— Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 Nov. 2026

Definition of chill

Verb

Legal and campaign finance experts told CNBC the dispute could eventually reach the Supreme Court, whose 6-3 conservative majority has repeatedly loosened campaign finance restrictions.

— Luke Fountain, CNBC, 6 Nov. 2026
Elsewhere on the ballot, Miami-Dade voters rejected a referendum loosening restrictions on advertising in county parks.

— Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of loosen

Verb

Shy, retreating Minnie was happy to bask in Callie’s light, while Helen’s existence was almost entirely dedicated to her only daughter.

— Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026
But in his own world on Wednesday, West has managed to remain indelible, finishing Wednesday night with a crowd of applause, briefly basking it in before taking a bow.

— Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of bask

Verb

Bipartisan legislation that would ban anticompetitive insurance contracts, unwind vertically consolidated companies, and require more price transparency are collecting dust.

— Bob Herman, STAT, 29 Oct. 2026
However, at the same meeting the FDA's own scientists recommended against unwinding the existing restrictions on them.

— Sydney Lupkin, NPR, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of unwind

Verb

Engineers will initially run the engine horizontally while the aircraft rests on its launch and recovery vehicle.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 4 Nov. 2026
Flick had rested Rodri against PSG to keep him fresh for the Real Madrid clash, but that decision backfired with both games ending in defeats.

— Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of rest

Verb

Beyond bachelorette parties, social gatherings and couples looking to decompress, Voda remains a destination for Eastern Europeans in the Los Angeles area.

— Maddie Connors, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026
The downside is kids might be depleted from a long day and need time to decompress.

— Jeff Wagner, CBS News, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of decompress

Verb

All told, Tesla sold around 70,000 of the vehicles between their release in November 2023 and Friday, when CEO Elon Musk announced that the company would wind down production in favor of a new self-driving taxi, the Cybercab.

— Jack Crosbie, Rolling Stone, 7 Nov. 2026
Tesla will wind down Cybertruck production at its Texas Gigafactory around mid-2027 to make room for increased production of its Cybercab robotaxi, marking a major shift in the electric vehicle maker’s manufacturing priorities.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of wind down

Verb

Brewing ahead leaves fermentation and chilling out of the gathering itself.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 27 Oct. 2026
Robed guests chill out in lounge chairs that look out onto an interior courtyard garden full of vegetation, including a pine tree twisted to resemble a giant bonsai.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of chill out

Browse Nearby Words

relaunching

relax

relaxant

See all Nearby Words

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Style

“Relax.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/relax. Accessed 9 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of relax

verb

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