Synonyms of relaxing

relaxing 1 of 2

adjective

as in soothing

tending to calm the emotions and relieve stress

a relaxing cup of chamomile tea

Synonyms & Similar Words

• soothing
• tranquilizing
• comforting
• calming
• hypnotic
• quieting
• sedative
• dreamy
• narcotic
• lulling
• depressant
• opiate
• pacifying
• analgesic
• deadening
• anesthetic
• anodyne
• antidepressant
• antianxiety
• numbing
• antistress
• antidepression

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• painful
• stressful
• tiresome
• troubling
• unsettling
• trying
• stimulating
• worrisome
• stimulant
• troublesome
• frustrating
• disturbing
• annoying
• energizing
• irritating
• aggravating
• invigorating
• bothersome
• maddening
• exasperating
• irksome
• vexatious
• vexing
• galling
• harassing
• grating
• nettlesome

relaxing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of relax

1

as in chilling

to get rid of nervous tension or anxiety

she took deep breaths to relax before going on stage

Synonyms & Similar Words

• chilling
• resting
• unwinding
• decompressing
• basking
• de-stressing
• hanging loose
• loosening up
• winding down
• calming
• composing
• mellowing (out)
• lounging
• chilling out
• comforting
• settling
• lazing
• relieving
• loafing
• cooling
• idling
• lolling
• alleviating
• bumming
• reposing
• unbending
• hanging (around or out)
• easing
• quieting
• vegetating
• dawdling
• kicking back
• droning
• hacking (around)
• goofing (off)
• dillydallying
• vegging out
• zoning out
• footling
• dallying

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• tensing (up)

2

as in loosening

to make less taut

relax the rope a bit so I can pick up the slack and tie this knot

Synonyms & Similar Words

• loosening
• slacking
• slackening
• easing
• detaching
• freeing
• untying
• undoing
• unfastening
• unbinding

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• stretching
• tightening
• straining
• binding
• tying
• attaching
• tensing
• fastening
• restraining
• tensioning
• constraining

3

as in resting

to refrain from labor or exertion

I just want to kick back and relax after mowing that huge lawn

Synonyms & Similar Words

• resting
• basking
• lounging
• hanging
• reposing
• lolling
• kicking back
• idling
• loafing
• hanging around
• bumming
• slacking (off)
• hanging about
• vegging out
• goldbricking

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• working
• laboring
• struggling
• striving
• sweating
• plowing
• plugging
• plodding
• hustling
• straining
• toiling
• slaving
• grubbing
• pegging (away)
• slogging
• exercising
• humping
• drudging
• working out
• travailing
• moiling

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of relaxing

Adjective

Amenities and experiences For those who want a relaxing break in between national park hikes and Colorado River rafting, head to the on-site massage cave for a calming treatment. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Oct. 2026

What began as a sightseeing excursion remains one of the area’s most relaxing experiences. — Amber Love Bond, Southern Living, 23 Oct. 2026

Expansive exterior decks and a generous flybridge create space for entertaining, relaxing, or even exercising in the great outdoors. — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 13 Oct. 2026

Tushy Fresh Dual-Nozzle Bidet Offering easy installation, this bidet with a no-frills interface has some relaxing perks (including a heated water option) without too many extra knobs and levers. — Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 8 Oct. 2026

If your idea of a relaxing fall weekend does not involve joining everybody else in America at the Smokies, Bowron also offered a more under-the-radar option. — Amber Harding Outkick, FOXNews.com, 23 Sep. 2026

In fact, according to a ranking from vape retailer Vape and Go, Tallinn, Estonia, is Europe’s most relaxing metro for travelers in 2026. — Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 23 Sep. 2026

Few things are more relaxing than enjoying the outdoors in a rocking chair (doing that with a side of leaf peeping just puts a cherry on top). — Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 22 Sep. 2026

What should be a relaxing weekend quickly veers off course as Chuck inserts himself into the group and tests the limits of their patience. — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 18 Sep. 2026

Verb

The rooftop pool, complete with the aforementioned views, is perfect for relaxing after a busy day on your feet. — Jaymi McCann, TheWeek, 3 Nov. 2026

What to do nearby Just around 45 minutes outside of Atlanta, Château Élan is a great place for locals looking for a kid-friendly staycation or those who want to spend some time relaxing outside of the city. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Nov. 2026

Inside, interiors marry beauty and coziness—think a charming living room for long evenings in front of the fire, a sophisticated kitchen for big breakfast spreads and shared cooking, and a deep soaking tub for relaxing in. — Katharine Sohn, Architectural Digest, 30 Oct. 2026

But many bioethicists and even some transplant surgeons and patient and organ donation advocates say relaxing the firewall between care and organ retrieval teams is dangerous. — Brittney Melton, NPR, 30 Oct. 2026

This includes relaxing rules around flaring—or burning off excess natural gas at well sites—as well as doing away with a program that requires speedy fixes for large methane leaks. — Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 29 Oct. 2026

The official Instagram account for the royal family shared photos of the 77-year-old monarch relaxing in his seat while looking over some documents. — Juliana Ukiomogbe, InStyle, 28 Oct. 2026

No wonder Dad had been terrified of making a mistake, of relaxing or trusting others enough to let his guard down. — Literary Hub, 26 Oct. 2026

Passion fruit also has magnesium, which is helpful for calming your nervous system and relaxing your muscles. — Vanessa Caceres, Verywell Health, 26 Oct. 2026