RELIEF Synonyms: 87 Similar and Opposite Words

relief

noun

ri-ˈlēf

Definition of relief

as in consolation

a feeling of ease from grief or trouble my coworkers' kind words gave me some relief from the grief that I was feeling upon the death of my partner

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in replacement

a person or thing that takes the place of another I can't go home from my nursing shift until my relief shows up to take over

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in comfort

reduction of or freedom from pain the aspirin gave him some relief from the headache

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 relief As effective as his four innings were in late March, Latz quickly switched to short relief. — Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 17 July 2026 If elected, Blanks would advocate for property tax relief for senior citizens by expanding relief programs through the Kansas Department of Revenue. — Sofi Zeman july 17, Kansas City Star, 17 July 2026 Wisconsin used part of a multibillion-dollar surplus to enact income tax cuts and has continued debating additional relief. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2026 Miami’s relief pitching in particular has taken a hit as of late. — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 16 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for relief

Recent Examples of Synonyms for relief

Noun

At this point, consolation is the enemy of championship dreams.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 12 July 2026
Neymar converted a consolation stoppage-time penalty with the last kick of the game as Norway reached the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time.

— Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 11 July 2026

Definition of consolation

Noun

Margarita Betancourt, the district’s treasurer, is set to be appointed as Steiger’s replacement on an interim basis.

— Austin Horn July 15, Miami Herald, 15 July 2026
That approach could ease the transition to the new interceptor without requiring a complete replacement of supporting equipment.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 15 July 2026

Definition of replacement

Noun

Name the number, make the plan, and choose comfort that will still make sense next week.

— Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 July 2026
Odysseus counters that his lie helped win them the Trojan War, but Sinon fires back, saying that gives him no comfort when he is forced to wander among the dead.

— Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 19 July 2026

Definition of comfort

Noun

Still, even with that encouragement, the thought of starting over again with someone new has been an emotional adjustment.

— Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 18 July 2026
Providers recognize this transition has its ups and downs for their patients and offer some words of encouragement.

— Isabel Lopez, Parents, 14 July 2026

Definition of encouragement

Noun

The organizations getting beyond experimentation are redesigning their workflows around collaboration between AI and humans, rather than viewing one as a substitute for the other.

— Tony Bates, Fortune, 16 July 2026
In response, Paramount argued that the Paramount and WBD cable lineups are complementary — and not market substitutes — and that cable providers will still want access to all of the channels.

— Gene Maddaus, Variety, 16 July 2026

Definition of substitute

Noun

The next night, d4vd had an album release party before departing on an international tour in late July.

— Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
Throughout the past two decades since his release from prison, Belfort’s name has come back up in headlines because of his debt to investors.

— Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 19 July 2026

Definition of release

Noun

Chinese diplomats and the foreign ministry say that their outreach in the region is aimed at building friendship and assisting countries with poverty alleviation, agricultural and economic development, and law and order.

— Didi Kirsten Tatlow, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
Lillian Wald, the founder of public health nursing, was also a champion of women’s suffrage, poverty alleviation, and racial equality.

— Patrick Smith, STAT, 27 Jan. 2026