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
Nushrat Rahman, Freep.com, 22 Jan. 2026
When summer temperatures hit, guests will probably want to take a reprieve from the heat indoors.
—Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Jan. 2026
Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2025
President Donald Trump introduced last-minute stumbling blocks for several nations seeking reprieves on trade before his reciprocal tariffs begin to go into effect just after midnight.
—Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 31 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for reprieve
Noun
Respite spots are available for those who need a reprieve from the chilly weather conditions.
—Nushrat Rahman, Freep.com, 22 Jan. 2026
When summer temperatures hit, guests will probably want to take a reprieve from the heat indoors.
—Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Jan. 2026
Verb
Has Ollie Palmer just earned himself the most unlikely of Wrexham reprieves?
—Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2025
President Donald Trump introduced last-minute stumbling blocks for several nations seeking reprieves on trade before his reciprocal tariffs begin to go into effect just after midnight.
—Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 31 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for reprieve
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reprieve
Noun
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The White House didn't immediately respond to a query seeking clarity about the scope and timing of any limited pause.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
31 Jan. 2026
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As the officers back away from Pretti, there’s a pause in shooting that lasts just under a second, according to an analysis of the shooting audio by Robert Maher, an audio forensic expert at Montana State University.—
Yahya Abou-Ghazala,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
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If Mangione were convicted of second-degree murder in New York, parole would be on the table.—
Michael Ruiz,
FOXNews.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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Despite arguments from Cornish’s public defender, Erik Ellis, for his client to be eligible for parole after serving 25 years, McCarthy said he wasn’t persuaded.—
Alex Brizee,
Idaho Statesman,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Trump last year pardoned several people convicted for blockading clinics.—
Josh Funk,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Jan. 2026
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Consistently entertaining and loopy (pardon the pun) Tales From the Loop is a visual feast that hits the ground running and sticks the landing.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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At the same time, the Broward County Commission authorized its own consultant to determine whether to relieve the Sheriff’s Office from law enforcement responsibility for Port Everglades and the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.—
Rafael Olmeda,
Sun Sentinel,
1 Feb. 2026
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Above those words was a video of a masked vandal adding a scatological element to the billboard, a suggestion that the first lady — ad shown in the ad — is relieving herself on an American flag.—
Eve Batey,
Vanity Fair,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Google says the new setup is meant to reduce tab overload and interruptions.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Jan. 2026
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The rest of the organization experiences it as interruption.—
Vibhas Ratanjee,
Forbes.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The White House doesn’t comment on potential clemency requests, but the president is the ultimate decider on pardons and commutations.—
Jacqueline Munis,
Fortune,
23 Jan. 2026
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The White House does not comment on clemency requests, and the final decision on any pardons or commutations rests with the president, a White House official told CNN.—
Clare Duffy,
CNN Money,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
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She was also charged with concealing and aiding a fugitive, but that charge was later dropped.—
Jeramie Bizzle,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
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Choose Iowa gives food banks more options A state program bringing together farmers and consumers also has played a role in aiding food banks.—
F. Amanda Tugade,
Des Moines Register,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The speech marked a decisive break from his reformist persona and aligned him publicly with the regime’s violent crackdown on demonstrators.—
Nic Robertson,
CNN Money,
4 Feb. 2026
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Teams loved the break from the grind — being able to play and collaborate with friends in the culinary community — which grew stronger as a result.—
Amy Drew Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Reprieve.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reprieve. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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