as in break
a short period of time when you are able to stop doing something that is difficult or unpleasant or when something difficult or unpleasant stops or is delayed
The weekend provided a nice respite from the pressures of her job. a temporary respite
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Recent Examples of respite
The ceasefire deal in Iran has offered a respite for Tehran’s population, even if few there believe the conflict is truly over.
—
Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 10 Apr. 2026
Located between the Sahara tent and the Do Lab, the Bunker is a gigantic subterranean cavern with room for 300 or so people — a dark and cool respite from the blazing Indio sun.
—Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
There is a small spa with treatment rooms that seemed like a welcome respite from the August sun outside.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Apr. 2026
The site will shelter up to 275 people in sleeping cabins and in their vehicles, and provide weather respite for 75, in North Highlands.
—Theresa Clift, Sacbee.com, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for respite
Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 10 Apr. 2026
Located between the Sahara tent and the Do Lab, the Bunker is a gigantic subterranean cavern with room for 300 or so people — a dark and cool respite from the blazing Indio sun.
—Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
There is a small spa with treatment rooms that seemed like a welcome respite from the August sun outside.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Apr. 2026
The site will shelter up to 275 people in sleeping cabins and in their vehicles, and provide weather respite for 75, in North Highlands.
—Theresa Clift, Sacbee.com, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for respite
Recent Examples of Synonyms for respite
Noun
-
After that, global income is fully taxable, a sharp break from the previous system that allowed wealth to remain offshore indefinitely.—
Emma Graham,Sawdah Bhaimiya,
CNBC,
21 Apr. 2026
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The first day of New York City public school will be unusually late this fall, according to the official 2026-27 school year calendar released Tuesday — forcing families to scramble for child care at the end of summer break.—
Cayla Bamberger,
New York Daily News,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday Ukraine is ready to mirror any ceasefire steps, having earlier proposed to Russia a pause in attacks on each other’s energy infrastructure over the Orthodox Easter holiday.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Leon, in issuing the temporary pause, concluded that the preservationist group behind the legal challenge was likely to succeed because the president lacks the authority to build the ballroom without approval from Congress.—
Michael Kunzelman,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Not all parts of the country seem to have the same pattern, although the data points to school breaks as relative lulls.—
Meg Wingerter,
Denver Post,
18 Apr. 2026
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Artemi Panarin – aka Bread Man, in a play on Panera Bread – dragged the top line and power-play units back into the fight after a lull as well.—
Andrew Knoll,
Daily News,
18 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The proof was in my Oura ring sleep score—96% and optimal restfulness.—
Brianna Peters,
Vogue,
28 Mar. 2026
-
But restfulness dropped—my body noticed the break.—
Marisa McMillan,
Outside,
29 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Respite.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/respite. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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