1
as in rests
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
as in loosens
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
3
as in basks
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 relaxes
Rising Star in Beverly Hills Gable relaxes on the veranda of his new Beverly Hills rental home in this 1931 photo, which accompanied an article in Screenland magazine.
—
Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 24 Feb. 2026
In the clip, Megan relaxes on a hotel bed wearing a long, bombshell-blonde wig in the most divine blend of honeyed shades, styled in lush, loose waves by her hairstylist Kellon Deryck.
—Kara Nesvig, Allure, 23 Feb. 2026
More tournaments to come While Yount has developed a near-superpower of watching 12 mats at once, Smith, for the most part, relaxes in his seat and enjoys the show at Ball Arena while Yount scribbles on his brackets.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 21 Feb. 2026
Advertisement The ruling also relaxes limits on a number of other pollutants released by burning coal, such as arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, and nickel.
—Simmone Shah, Time, 20 Feb. 2026
House Bill 267 relaxes funding restrictions to the State Housing Initiatives Program, known as SHIP, which provides local governments with money to promote housing affordability for residents.
—Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2026
Néfissa relaxes with all generations of her sprawling family.
—Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
When temperatures drop below 32 degrees after dark, the city activates enhanced Code Blue, which intensifies outreach and relaxes shelter rules to bring more people indoors.
—Jeffrey Ginsburg, New York Daily News, 9 Feb. 2026
Potassium relaxes the muscles in your blood vessels, helping lower your blood pressure.
—Lindsay Curtis, Verywell Health, 20 Jan. 2026
Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 24 Feb. 2026
In the clip, Megan relaxes on a hotel bed wearing a long, bombshell-blonde wig in the most divine blend of honeyed shades, styled in lush, loose waves by her hairstylist Kellon Deryck.
—Kara Nesvig, Allure, 23 Feb. 2026
More tournaments to come While Yount has developed a near-superpower of watching 12 mats at once, Smith, for the most part, relaxes in his seat and enjoys the show at Ball Arena while Yount scribbles on his brackets.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 21 Feb. 2026
Advertisement The ruling also relaxes limits on a number of other pollutants released by burning coal, such as arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, and nickel.
—Simmone Shah, Time, 20 Feb. 2026
House Bill 267 relaxes funding restrictions to the State Housing Initiatives Program, known as SHIP, which provides local governments with money to promote housing affordability for residents.
—Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2026
Néfissa relaxes with all generations of her sprawling family.
—Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
When temperatures drop below 32 degrees after dark, the city activates enhanced Code Blue, which intensifies outreach and relaxes shelter rules to bring more people indoors.
—Jeffrey Ginsburg, New York Daily News, 9 Feb. 2026
Potassium relaxes the muscles in your blood vessels, helping lower your blood pressure.
—Lindsay Curtis, Verywell Health, 20 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for relaxes
Verb
-
That project rests on decades of layered planning, established air rights and a transit hub designed to absorb extraordinary density.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Mar. 2026
-
In politics, evaluation usually rests on messaging and election results that often have little to do with day-to-day legislating.—
Matt Wing,
New York Daily News,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Affordable housing bill loosens income limits This year’s draft requires average rents to be affordable to residents earning the 60% area median income.—
Mark Dee,
Idaho Statesman,
26 Feb. 2026
-
The Department of the Interior finalized its overhaul of the nation’s bedrock environmental law on Monday, which loosens oversight on logging, mining, oil and gas development, and other industrial projects.—
Christine Peterson,
Outdoor Life,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The Central Valley city basks in around 265 days of sunshine.—
Stephanie Vermillion,
Outside,
4 Jan. 2026
-
Like this Earth sign, this recurring float basks in abundance and is deliciously on-brand with the Thanksgiving staple.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
27 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
When enforcement activity impedes the rights to assemble, document and criticize government action, that chills those rights, and the consequences extend beyond any single demonstration.—
Yohuru Williams,
The Conversation,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Apartments in the capital are freezing, and when venturing outside people wear heavy layers of clothes against the bitter cold that chills to the bone.—
Vasilisa Stepanenko,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Rent has also shot up as Milei unwinds price controls.—
Isabel Debre,
Fortune,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Such events often reflect leverage unwinds rather than fundamental shifts.—
Alice Liu,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Using contoured foam rollers built into an adjustable frame, the bed gently decompresses the spine while massaging muscles along the way.—
Joe Jackson,
Outside,
20 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Relaxes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/relaxes. Accessed 5 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
