1
as in pauses
a temporary halt in an activity or condition
The pool offered a welcome reprieve from the heat.
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2
as in commutations
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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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of reprieves
Camilo Montoya-Galvez,
CBS News,
20 May 2026
Extradition requests typically drag on for months, sometimes years, as those targeted seek reprieves from Mexican courts.
—
Kate Linthicum,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
One of those reprieves came only hours before.
—
Kevin Grasha,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
6 Mar. 2026
Another 17 inmates so far are scheduled to be put to death this year, including a woman in Tennessee, though that number will change significantly as governors approve more death warrants or inmates win reprieves.
—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
29 Jan. 2026
She was granted several reprieves under the Biden administration but was arrested at her workplace in March.
—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
22 Dec. 2025
If moments like that suggest that Bigelow weaves in occasional reprieves from the anxiety, that’s not the case.
—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
2 Sep. 2025
Newsom has issued 247 pardons, 160 commutations and 42 reprieves since taking office, his office said.
—
Daniel Lempres,
Sacbee.com,
31 Aug. 2025
Noun
But those protections are issued alongside deportation orders and technically allow for those granted the reprieves to be deported to any other third country.
—
Camilo Montoya-Galvez,
CBS News,
20 May 2026
Extradition requests typically drag on for months, sometimes years, as those targeted seek reprieves from Mexican courts.
—
Kate Linthicum,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
One of those reprieves came only hours before.
—
Kevin Grasha,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
6 Mar. 2026
Another 17 inmates so far are scheduled to be put to death this year, including a woman in Tennessee, though that number will change significantly as governors approve more death warrants or inmates win reprieves.
—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
29 Jan. 2026
She was granted several reprieves under the Biden administration but was arrested at her workplace in March.
—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
22 Dec. 2025
If moments like that suggest that Bigelow weaves in occasional reprieves from the anxiety, that’s not the case.
—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
2 Sep. 2025
Newsom has issued 247 pardons, 160 commutations and 42 reprieves since taking office, his office said.
—
Daniel Lempres,
Sacbee.com,
31 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reprieves
Noun
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The two mid-half pauses for hydration (and advertisements) have been met with increasingly loud boos from crowds who are frustrated at FIFA turning matches into de facto four-quarter affairs.
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The pauses have also been criticized for interrupting the spectacle for fans, with broadcasters cutting to commercials.
Noun
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Interim Ohio Republican Attorney General Andy Wilson expressed relief that DeWine didn't choose to use commutations and that his office will continue working to uphold the current law.
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In fact, sentencing commutations already can require a defendant to pay existing financial penalties while reducing or eliminating other aspects of a sentence, such as prison time.
Verb
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Trump pardons ex-Republican congressman.
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President Kennedy pardons his predecessor, Nixon, for his involvement in the Watergate scandal.
Verb
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Like an Old Testament patriarch whose sins are absorbed in a greater story of redemption, America’s identity as the apostle of liberty relieves it of the excesses of introspection.
-
The deep-tissue technique, using thumbs and knuckles, relieves these pain points.
Noun
-
If interruptions throw you off, step away briefly and return composed.
-
The signature tonneau silhouette is reimagined not as a single uninterrupted curve but as a constructed surface, broken into sharp transitions, layered planes and asymmetrical interruptions that radically alter its form.
Noun
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While Singh’s lawyer Jitender Khurana denies any political motive for his client’s paroles, his previous releases coincided with crucial state elections, fueling speculation that his freedom is a reward for the Dera’s electoral support.
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Discretionary paroles have also plummeted.
Verb
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Every weekday, the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer releases the Homestretch — an actionable afternoon update, just in time for the last hour of trading on Wall Street.
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The current agreement also releases billions of Iran's frozen funds held in overseas accounts in Qatar.
Noun
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In the director’s view, fragmented editing breaks emotional continuity; an unbroken take mirrors the uninterrupted flow of lived experience.
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There will be hydration breaks during games and special rules that take effect if the on-field temperature exceeds 32°C (90°F).
Cite this Entry
“Reprieves.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reprieves. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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