1
as in pause
a temporary halt in an activity or condition
The pool offered a welcome reprieve from the heat.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
2
as in parole
law
a temporary release from the obligation to serve punishment for a crime
The judge ordered a reprieve of the execution so the accused would have time to appeal the decision.
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
1
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 reprieve
Max Zahn, ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
The French dip haven (which maintains a friendly rivalry with Philippe the Original downtown over who invented the sandwich) has seen late reprieves before.
—James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2026
Jasmine Ting, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Sep. 2025
Trump has since given TikTok three more extensions as his administration tried to broker a deal for ByteDance to divest and U.S. companies to take control — a series of reprieves that legal experts have questioned.
—John Ruwitch, NPR, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reprieve
Noun
Wall Street appeared to find little solace in the reprieve from large-scale tit-for-tat attacks on infrastructure.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
The French dip haven (which maintains a friendly rivalry with Philippe the Original downtown over who invented the sandwich) has seen late reprieves before.
—James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2026
Verb
Aside from the offerings of the market itself, the square is also lined with many shops, boutiques, and department stores that provide plenty of options for visitors, as well as indoor reprieves from the cold.
—Jasmine Ting, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Sep. 2025
Trump has since given TikTok three more extensions as his administration tried to broker a deal for ByteDance to divest and U.S. companies to take control — a series of reprieves that legal experts have questioned.
—John Ruwitch, NPR, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reprieve
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reprieve
Noun
-
After a pause earlier this month to make way for the WGA talks, negotiation are set to pick up with the Sean Astin-run SAG-AFTRA in June, if not sooner.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Instead of plowing ahead with the current design, perhaps a pause is warranted.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Hedrick was sentenced to 20 years in prison, but was released on parole after eight years.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Judy Church appears in court for her sentencing on April 2, 2026, receiving life without parole for murdering her boyfriend by poisoning.—
Penny Kmitt,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
His legal restoration began in 2020 with Trump pardoning him for lying to the FBI.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Lukashenko pardoned the prisoners after meeting with Coale in Minsk.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Seasoned golfers Bernhard Langer and Fred Couples flirted with the cut line while Arizona State senior Jose Luis Ballester relieved himself in Rae’s Creek near the 13th tee.—
Jack Leo,
AJC.com,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Speaking of cryptocurrency, you may be relieved to know that Jonathan, the world’s oldest tortoise, is alive and well, despite rumors to the contrary.—
Alan Henry,
PC Magazine,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
As the city has become a year-round base, their clients—often finance and tech principals relocating from New York and California—expect homes to support work, family life, and entertaining without interruption.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The structure remains fairly traditional, allowing the images to carry the weight of the story without interruption.—
Caterina De Biasio,
Vogue,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
And the punishment must be carried out within 90 days of sentencing without any possibility for pardons or commutations.—
Matt Bradley,
NBC news,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The victim’s daughter – identified as Tori in Burton’s clemency petition – and some of the jurors in Burton’s case have backed his request for commutation.—
Elise Hammond,
CNN Money,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Police say the cameras have aided in investigations, including a crash at Peachtree Blvd.—
Leondra Head,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
-
His efforts were greatly aided, Kirkpatrick reports, by the fact that so many of them feared for their lives—after several of their fellow-scientists had been assassinated in Israeli operations.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Her youngest son Oliver, now 2, was born with a hole in his heart and needed surgery, sending her on a six-month social media break.—
David Oliver,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
-
That, more than anything else, is the lesson of this international break.—
Jack Pitt-Brooke,
New York Times,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Reprieve.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reprieve. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
