RELAXATION Synonyms: 99 Similar and Opposite Words

relaxation

noun

ˌrē-ˌlak-ˈsā-shən

Definition of relaxation

as in recreation

activity engaged in to amuse oneself what do people in this jerkwater town do for relaxation?

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in rest

freedom from activity or labor meditating in a state of total relaxation

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 relaxation Beets contain pigments called betalains that also promote blood vessel relaxation. — Jillian Kubala, HEALTH, 5 Sep. 2026 Back at the hotel, the calming interiors encourage proper rest and relaxation. — Irenie Forshaw, TheWeek, 4 Sep. 2026 Rachel Yve, who posted a 20-minute somatic sleep support session on InsightTimer, blends somatic exercises, breathwork and progressive muscle relaxation, including legs up the wall. — Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 3 Sep. 2026 The Lincoln docked in the port of Laem Chabang, on the Gulf of Thailand, south of Bangkok, on Wednesday for a visit expected to last several days to give crew members their first full rest-and-relaxation port call after a marathon deployment. — Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for relaxation

Recent Examples of Synonyms for relaxation

Noun

Her 7 year old and 5 year old are enrolled in a recreation league for football and cheerleading, but the $398 cost is putting a strain on the family's finances, Patterson said.

— Betty Lin-Fisher, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2026
Once officers connected the missing girl with the dog that had been found near the recreation center, a massive law enforcement search began.

— Yana Johnson, NBC news, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of recreation

Noun

Much of the league’s hopes for the future rest on the development of young talents like McKibbin, Josele Ballester, Caleb Surratt and Michael La Sasso, but who knows if those players want to commit to an unstable path.

— Brody Miller, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Kramatorsk has long served as a strategic rear point for the Ukrainian units serving along the eastern front lines – and as a place to which exhausted troops can retreat for a few days of rest before their next mission.

— Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of rest

Noun

But when the Orcs come sniffing, those same qualities transform him from fun-loving hobbit to fierce protector.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2026
But many captains say the importance of having fun should not be underestimated — fun that almost always includes a ping pong table in the team room.

— Caoimhe O'Neill, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of fun

Noun

One of the month’s biggest job generators was the leisure and hospitality sector, which added 62,000 jobs, after having posted job losses of 21,000 and 54,000 in July and June, respectively.

— Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026
Women gained around 68,000 jobs in leisure and hospitality, even as the whole sector added only 62,000, meaning men lost 6,000 jobs in the sector.

— Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of leisure

Noun

Until now, backlash has been Hollywood’s default stance on AI, as the industry slumped under pressure from entertainment streaming services and soaring production costs.

— Jake Angelo, semafor.com, 4 Sep. 2026
The scenery is beautiful, though the onboard entertainment leans into classic all-inclusive territory, complete with a digital saxophone performance, audience participation, and the inevitable Macarena throw down.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of entertainment

Noun

The motorcycle overturned and the rider and motorcycle tumbled to a final resting position, where both caught fire, police said.

— Cuyler Dunn, Kansas City Star, 6 Sep. 2026
The children also visited Althorp, the childhood home and final resting place of Harry’s late mother, Princess Diana.

— Ashley Hume , Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of resting

Noun

Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett, a legendary figure in the game and not known to smile often, was among the staff drafted in to help dress Arrow for the occasion — much to Arrow’s own amusement.

— Michael Bailey, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
In stories centered on objects ranging from a button to a tin soldier, young authors recognize the it-narrative’s potential not only for amusement but for showcasing the power of the small and marginal.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of amusement

Browse Nearby Words

relaxant

relaxation

relaxed

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“Relaxation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/relaxation. Accessed 10 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of relaxation

noun

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