as in easing
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
1
as in alleviating
to make more bearable or less severe
an ice pack will relieve the swelling
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in ridding
to set (a person or thing) free of something that encumbers
the bellhop relieved him of his luggage and led him to the elevator
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in replacing
to take the place of
at daybreak a soldier arrived to relieve the one who had spent the night on guard duty
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 relieving
Kevin Dotson, CNN Money, 5 Jan. 2026
Colorado doesn’t have any way of quantifying whether areas need more hospital beds, and health systems generally described their recent projects as bringing specific types of care closer to communities, rather than relieving a crunch on their existing facilities.
—Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 31 Dec. 2025
Politically speaking, November saw the long shutdown of the federal government ending, relieving some stress.
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 30 Dec. 2025
This mattress uses pressure-relieving memory foam that conforms to the body and helps circulation.
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 26 Dec. 2025
These activities were immensely relieving to me.
—Literary Hub, 17 Dec. 2025
In some cases, corticosteroid injections or topical pain-relieving creams may offer temporary relief while longer-term treatments take effect, says Nicolosi.
—Daryl Austin, USA Today, 15 Dec. 2025
Such goals have been set in the hopes of cutting harmful emissions that contribute to climate change as well as relieving congestion.
—Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 13 Dec. 2025
That goal against the Predators in the Flyers’ 3-1 win in Nashville was particularly relieving.
—Kevin Kurz, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
Verb
Browns let go of Kevin Stefanski The Cleveland Browns kicked off the infamous day in the NFL calendar by relieving Kevin Stefanski of head coaching duties after six seasons in charge of the team, the franchise announced in a statement.
—Kevin Dotson, CNN Money, 5 Jan. 2026
Colorado doesn’t have any way of quantifying whether areas need more hospital beds, and health systems generally described their recent projects as bringing specific types of care closer to communities, rather than relieving a crunch on their existing facilities.
—Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 31 Dec. 2025
Politically speaking, November saw the long shutdown of the federal government ending, relieving some stress.
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 30 Dec. 2025
This mattress uses pressure-relieving memory foam that conforms to the body and helps circulation.
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 26 Dec. 2025
These activities were immensely relieving to me.
—Literary Hub, 17 Dec. 2025
In some cases, corticosteroid injections or topical pain-relieving creams may offer temporary relief while longer-term treatments take effect, says Nicolosi.
—Daryl Austin, USA Today, 15 Dec. 2025
Such goals have been set in the hopes of cutting harmful emissions that contribute to climate change as well as relieving congestion.
—Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 13 Dec. 2025
That goal against the Predators in the Flyers’ 3-1 win in Nashville was particularly relieving.
—Kevin Kurz, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for relieving
Verb
-
Picture a bunch of people descending in private jets to eat steak and appear on panels about alleviating poverty and fighting climate change (among other noble goals), while clinking cocktail glasses with other fellow rich people in an effort to make one another even richer.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Lamont, while not weighing in directly on Iroquois’ proposal, has been generally supportive of expanding pipelines as a way of increasing the supply of natural gas flowing into New England and alleviating winter price spikes.—
John Moritz,
Hartford Courant,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In a 2020 debate with the lawyer Alan Dershowitz, Kennedy raised doubts about whether the vaccine had really been responsible for ridding the country of polio, crediting instead factors such as sanitation and hygiene.—
Tom Bartlett,
The Atlantic,
28 Jan. 2026
-
This means finally ridding yourself of the embarrassing high school or college address you are still stuck with decades later.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
If your temperature valve is leaking, DIYers who are experienced with plumbing should be capable of replacing or repairing the valve on a water heater.—
Timothy Dale,
The Spruce,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Indeed, Spiber’s plan foresees replacing a large amount of edible sugar with waste by 2026.—
Srishti Gupta,
Interesting Engineering,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The polysaccharides found in certain species, such as snow mushroom (Tremella fuciformis), work in a similar way to hyaluronic acid by helping the skin attract and maintain moisture while supporting the skin barrier.—
Celia Shatzman,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Those characterizations outraged his family and Democratic politicians, who pointed to bystander videos showing Pretti helping a woman who had been pushed by an ICE agent and holding only his camera.—
Julia Prodis Sulek,
Mercury News,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The Broadway production will also include a partnership with the Innocence Project, the organization dedicated to freeing the wrongfully convicted and reforming the criminal justice system (and the same group that helped secure Yarris’ exoneration).—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
13 Jan. 2026
-
These nifty carry-on attachments slide onto the handle of your luggage, freeing up your hands.—
Jillian Dara,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In October 2024, however, federal prosecutors released a superseding indictment charging Wedding with running a criminal enterprise, cocaine trafficking and murder in an operation stretching across the US, Canada, Mexico and Colombia.—
Josh Campbell,
CNN Money,
23 Jan. 2026
-
But totally superseding gold may not be advantageous, especially if the price there continues to rise.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Turn comfort mode on with these soothing, filling dishes, a mix of old-school classics and creative new takes.—
Lynn Andriani,
Martha Stewart,
25 Jan. 2026
-
Some even combine vitamin C with hydrating or soothing ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, or peptides, so your skin looks bright and plump without ever feeling stripped, thirsty, or irritated.—
Lily Wohlner,
Allure,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
That wasn't the only basketball brawl in Kentucky this week, as a high school game had fisticuffs and benches clearing.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Is clearing snow off the windshield enough?—
Terry Baddoo,
USA Today,
24 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Relieving.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/relieving. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
