1
as in pause
a temporary halt in an activity or condition
The pool offered a welcome reprieve from the heat.
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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.
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1
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of reprieve
Essence, 20 May 2025
Musk’s reprieves: Regulatory problems that have dogged tech billionaire Elon Musk and his business empire in recent years have begun to melt away under the Trump administration.
—Amina Kilpatrick, NBC news, 11 May 2025
Air Mail, 30 Aug. 2025
In May, the Education Department resumed student loan collections, ending the relief measures of the pandemic era when borrowers had some reprieve.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reprieve
Noun
The act of hospitality is a practice of rest, reprieve, and community repair.
—Essence, 20 May 2025
Musk’s reprieves: Regulatory problems that have dogged tech billionaire Elon Musk and his business empire in recent years have begun to melt away under the Trump administration.
—Amina Kilpatrick, NBC news, 11 May 2025
Verb
The small restaurant, with Raymond Pettibon works lining the walls and midcentury-modern décor, is a quiet reprieve serving delicious, healthy takes on nostalgic classics.
—Air Mail, 30 Aug. 2025
In May, the Education Department resumed student loan collections, ending the relief measures of the pandemic era when borrowers had some reprieve.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reprieve
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reprieve
Noun
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This pause led to a more strategic decision that ultimately benefited the company.—
Naz Beheshti,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Job hopping has hit a pause as employees who might have left their companies previously are no longer able to find higher wages, according to a recent report from Bank of America.—
Suzanne Blake,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
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She was sentenced to life in prison at Bouwer Penitentiary, with parole eligibility after 35 years.—
Christina Coulter,
PEOPLE,
6 Sep. 2025
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His sentence was commuted to a year by the king and he was released on parole after six months in detention.—
Panarat Thepgumpanat,
USA Today,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The docuseries follows the reality-TV family as Todd and Julie are eventually pardoned, released from prison and return home.—
Ryan Schwartz,
TVLine,
30 Aug. 2025
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His administration pardoned roughly 1,500 people charged or convicted in connection with the riot.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
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After my long flight home, I was relieved that the late-night visitor turned out to be nothing more than city workers on the job (and their job in this case, while surprising, didn't turn out to be too destructive).—
Alesandra Dubin,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Sep. 2025
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She was placed on a ventilator, and doctors surgically removed a piece of her skull to relieve the pressure, according to The Times.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Dillinger’s vehicle went into the water in a brief, two-year interruption in the lake’s longer-term decline.—
Austin Corona,
AZCentral.com,
5 Sep. 2025
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Construction at the site, which stretches over 3,000 acres, has been suspended, but there was no interruption at the adjacent EV manufacturing facility.—
Michael Dorgan,
FOXNews.com,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Newsom granted a commutation to Arthur Battle, convicted of murder for a 2006 contract killing.—
Daniel Lempres,
Sacbee.com,
31 Aug. 2025
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The commutation, one of 10 granted by the governor Friday, allows Cuong Tran to make his case for parole earlier than expected.—
Jason Green,
Mercury News,
30 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The road to all these riches was aided by CBS’ failure to have the leverage of a backup plan for Romo five years ago.—
Andrew Marchand,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
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Another strategy that might be employed by a therapist involves setting up behavioral experiments to aid in reducing AI usage and AI reliance.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Overnight, crews will build hose lays along fire breaks and reinforce lines.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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The Tigers have been plagued by poor starting pitching, a thin bullpen and an offense that hasn’t played with the same spark since the All-Star break.—
Cody Stavenhagen,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Reprieve.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reprieve. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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