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relaxation

noun

ˌrē-ˌlak-ˈsā-shən How to pronounce relaxation (audio)
Definition of relaxationnext
1
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
2
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 Grandmacore embraces nostalgic, hands-on hobbies like baking, gardening, and sewing, offering relaxation and comfort. — Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Sep. 2026 This might sound simple, but deep breathing delivers oxygen to our muscles, which helps elicit the body’s relaxation response. — Juli Fraga, CNBC, 6 Sep. 2026 The Reathlete Spina-X Back massager's walking massage mechanism and high- and low-positioned massage heads are designed to target different areas of the body, while optional heat adds another layer of relaxation. — ABC News, 5 Sep. 2026 Beets contain pigments called betalains that also promote blood vessel relaxation. — Jillian Kubala, HEALTH, 5 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for relaxation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for relaxation
  1. recreation
  2. rest
  3. fun
  4. leisure
  5. entertainment
  6. resting
  7. enjoyment
  8. amusement
Noun
  • The money goes to state highways, county roads, public transit and local recreation projects.
    — Paula Wethington, CBS News, 18 Sep. 2026
  • But all the growth involved entertainment and recreation, as the subset involving hotel and food service workers lost 11,000 jobs in August and 2,900 over the year.
    — Jim Turner, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of recreation
Noun
  • Crews still need rest, while tanks still require ammunition and maintenance.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 16 Sep. 2026
  • And rest assured, there are those who will be reluctant to drop him now.
    — Gary Davenport, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of rest
Noun
  • There was nothing that had escaped being stamped with the Festival’s ubiquitous emblem–sweets, cigarettes, perfume, even sandals–Specially designed to keep you cool and smartly shod for fun-loving Festival walking!
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Buildings drip with embellishments; monuments to the city’s writers, artists and musicians seem to be on every corner, and the public transit system and plentiful taxis made for a fun and easy whistle-stop tour of some of Budapest’s main sites.
    — Lucy Handley, CNBC, 14 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
  • No stranger to controversy or criticism, Sweeney, 29, faced the music from Olympic athletes, entertainment icons and millions of keyboard warriors who voiced their opinions of the naked ad.
    — Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 18 Sep. 2026
  • The appointment came a day after Disney named former YouTube executive Adam Smith chairman of direct-to-consumer for Disney Entertainment, putting him in charge of the company’s global entertainment streaming business.
    — Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of entertainment
Noun
  • The Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the final resting place of Saint Francis, who founded the Franciscan Order and continually championed peace, fraternity, and care of the natural world.
    — Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Officials called the dedication the first step in an ambitious process to improve the Tennessee airport near Parton’s final resting place.
    — Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of resting
Noun
  • That enjoyment would also help pay for the barn’s preservation.
    — Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 3 Sep. 2026
  • In psychoanalytic terms, it would be called Angstlust—the enjoyment of fear.
    — Caitlín Doherty, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of enjoyment
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
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Relaxation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/relaxation. Accessed 19 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on relaxation

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about relaxation

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