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

Relevance

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 Practice relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, massages, and meditation. — Joy Emeh, HEALTH, 22 Aug. 2026 The chair itself reclines to 105°, 120°, or 135°, covering different moments from focused work to casual reading or gaming and deeper relaxation. — New Atlas, 21 Aug. 2026 Indeed, the lounge has value to both airlines and passengers beyond rest and relaxation. — Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026 Brainlume was developed in response to growing interest in tools designed for evening relaxation and winding down. — William Jones, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for relaxation

Recent Examples of Synonyms for relaxation

Noun

Unlike tobacco, a static product with no real defensible qualities outside of recreation, consumer technology is ever evolving, and the lines between harmfully addictive and beneficial to society can be extremely blurry.

— Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 30 Aug. 2026
The youth center has been a community staple for decades where children and teenagers turned for academic support and recreation.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of recreation

Noun

Water, snacks, rest and weather conditions shape the schedule, with his well-being guiding each appearance.

— Lauren Paige Richeson, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
When budgets tighten, the report finds consumers protect relationships, rest and personal growth first, cutting material purchases and discretionary splurges before anything tied to connection or well-being.

— Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of rest

Noun

Paranormal Activity understands just how much fun that can be, crafting a story so suspenseful, so surprising and so startling that the audience’s screams become a soundtrack all their own.

— Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026
There’s a fun bit when Green pulls her badge to walk Reacher out through the police cordon, pretending to have placed him under arrest, but the ruse doesn’t last long.

— Chris Klimek, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of fun

Noun

Outside of their life of crime, the first look gives a glimpse at the range of leisure activities available to the player — including shooting basketball, diving in the ocean, weightlifting, jet skiing and dancing at a strip club.

— Angela Yang, NBC news, 27 Aug. 2026
The property’s lower level functions as a leisure and entertainment complex with a plush theater with a concession stand and a virtual-reality racing room.

— Tori Latham, Robb Report, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of leisure

Noun

Potential suitors would also naturally be looking at what the future holds for the entertainment business at large.

— Sarah Whitten, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
The global board game market has been on the upswing since 2020, when people looked for new entertainment and hobbies during the COVID-19 pandemic.

— Jolene Almendarez, Cincinnati Enquirer, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of entertainment

Noun

Their efforts at Greenwood Cemetery, a predominately Black cemetery that serves as the final resting place for more than 800 Black veterans, marked the organization’s 12th year of hosting a community outreach day during its annual convention.

— Caroline Neal, Louisville Courier Journal, 28 Aug. 2026
The main sala, an open pavilion or a shaded resting place, provides unobstructed coastline views.

— Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of resting

Noun

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
Remmick, Jimmy Crystal and Larry Lamb share an unrelenting desire to entertain, whether performing music outside a juke joint, indulging amusement with graphic violence or delighting the British reading public with scandal and drama.

— Daniel D'Addario, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of amusement

Browse Nearby Words

relaxant

relaxation

relaxed

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Relaxation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/relaxation. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of relaxation

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on relaxation

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

conscientious

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Popular in Wordplay

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes