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
France’s government survived a no-confidence vote in Parliament on Thursday by a thin margin, giving the country a brief respite from intense political turmoil before what is expected to be another brutal battle over its budget.
—
Aurelien Breeden, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
Recently, Governor Gavin Newsom granted a small respite to California’s relentless attack on the state’s natural resources.
—Chris Kieser, Oc Register, 14 Oct. 2025
As the rainy season returns, Sacramento County and the city of Sacramento have opened weather respite centers across the region.
—Emma Hall, Sacbee.com, 14 Oct. 2025
As if needing momentary respite from talk of AI, Moura gets up from his desk.
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for respite
Aurelien Breeden, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
Recently, Governor Gavin Newsom granted a small respite to California’s relentless attack on the state’s natural resources.
—Chris Kieser, Oc Register, 14 Oct. 2025
As the rainy season returns, Sacramento County and the city of Sacramento have opened weather respite centers across the region.
—Emma Hall, Sacbee.com, 14 Oct. 2025
As if needing momentary respite from talk of AI, Moura gets up from his desk.
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for respite
Recent Examples of Synonyms for respite
Noun
-
In the doorway at the back of the altar room that led to the kitchen, the household staff stood watching, bringing hot water for the lamas to drink during breaks.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Oct. 2025
-
The Senate left Capitol Hill on Thursday for a weekend break without signaling any moves to end the government shutdown.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
26 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
If the pause continues, Forgotten Harvest will extensively fundraise.—
Nushrat Rahman,
Freep.com,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Congress signed into law a divest-or-ban order during the Biden administration, but Trump—whose Justice Department must enforce a ban—issued, then repeatedly extended, an enforcement pause in the interest of coming to terms about divestiture.—
Andrew Nusca,
Fortune,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
That led to a couple of scoring lulls, especially in the first half.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
25 Oct. 2025
-
In a lull after your project sold?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Respite.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/respite. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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