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
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
Josh gets to sit back, relax and focus on being a dad while enjoying the fleeting moments of high school ball before Michaela heads to college.
—
Charles Baggarly
april 2, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Apr. 2026
Steam and relax in a new floating sauna, which opened on Lake Wakatipu in December.
—New York Times, 2 Apr. 2026
Our top pick is the CalmNFiz Shower Steamers, which come with eight relaxing scents like grapefruit and lavender.
—Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 1 Apr. 2026
The property’s formal gardens lend a relaxing backdrop to a stone gazebo with a wood-burning stove.
—Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for relax
Charles Baggarly
april 2, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Apr. 2026
Steam and relax in a new floating sauna, which opened on Lake Wakatipu in December.
—New York Times, 2 Apr. 2026
Our top pick is the CalmNFiz Shower Steamers, which come with eight relaxing scents like grapefruit and lavender.
—Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 1 Apr. 2026
The property’s formal gardens lend a relaxing backdrop to a stone gazebo with a wood-burning stove.
—Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for relax
Recent Examples of Synonyms for relax
Verb
-
The space has real books to read and places to lounge within a small bamboo forest, making for an ideal spot to unwind or chill away from the stages.—
Patrick Connolly,
The Orlando Sentinel,
25 Mar. 2026
-
The signature welcome party will take place on Friday evening, giving brands, collectors, media, and tastemakers a chance to connect and unwind.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Gently remove your Milky Way™ Dietes from its pot and loosen the roots.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
1 Apr. 2026
-
For the past month, wellness and longevity enthusiasts have eagerly waited for the federal government to loosen restrictions on some of the trendy and unapproved therapies.—
Will Stone,
NPR,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Floorboards and beige walls didn’t do much to set the mood, but they were beautifully accompanied by period furniture and lamps, that kept the post-war vibe the rest of the hotel basks in.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Mar. 2026
-
But unlike the easily predictable radiation exposures from flying through the Van Allen Belts or basking in the background flux of galactic cosmic rays, the dose an astronaut gets from solar activity can vary enormously.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
After beating Atlanta last Friday without Jaylen Brown and Charlotte on Sunday without Brown and Derrick White, Boston flopped in a rematch with the Hawks, losing 112-102 without a crew of contributors headlined by a resting Jayson Tatum.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The project has dragged on for four years, and Belinda Hernandez-Arriaga, founder of a farmworker advocacy group called ALAS, said the problem at 555 Kelly rests at the local level.—
John Ramos,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
With her own space, Mila could decompress and get ready at her own pace, while Nathanael and I enjoyed rare pockets of alone time on our own balcony, watching the Pacific sun dip below the horizon.—
Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal,
Parents,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Viewers play them while sleeping, studying, meditating or just decompressing.—
Samantha Agate,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The current crisis in Iran has sent memories bubbling to the surface for the collective, and chills down the spines of viewers.—
Chloe Shrager,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Reheat chilled eggs in barely simmering water for 1–2 minutes, or cover them with hot tap water and let sit about 30 minutes until warmed through.—
Chris Morocco,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Surely, even the most fervent ideologues could chill out on July Fourth.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Mar. 2026
-
Do nothing, chill out, eat some pasta.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
What mattered to the Lakers was finding a way to win as the regular season winds down.—
Broderick Turner,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Mar. 2026
-
As the rally wound down, speakers readied to move westward to rallies in Caldwell and Nampa — cities a few miles away but steeped in a very different set of politics than Boise.—
Mark Dee,
Idaho Statesman,
28 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Relax.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/relax. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
