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
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of respite
Their European exploits provided some welcome respite from their domestic woes with a 1-0 victory at San Siro coming a month after Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid had been beaten at Anfield.
—
James Pearce, New York Times, 28 May 2026
From the secluded and quiet location to the calming interiors, the property embodies the idea of a retreat in every sense, inviting moments of respite away from the hustle and bustle of city life.
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 28 May 2026
Meanwhile, as the investigation was going on, Archer’s caseworker had talked with her about re-starting respite care, a state program that offered supervision for disabled children, to allow parents to rest or focus on their other kids.
—Larissa MacFarquhar, New Yorker, 28 May 2026
For lettuce, the shade offered by sunflowers is a welcome respite during summer's hottest days.
—Heather Bien, Southern Living, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for respite
James Pearce, New York Times, 28 May 2026
From the secluded and quiet location to the calming interiors, the property embodies the idea of a retreat in every sense, inviting moments of respite away from the hustle and bustle of city life.
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 28 May 2026
Meanwhile, as the investigation was going on, Archer’s caseworker had talked with her about re-starting respite care, a state program that offered supervision for disabled children, to allow parents to rest or focus on their other kids.
—Larissa MacFarquhar, New Yorker, 28 May 2026
For lettuce, the shade offered by sunflowers is a welcome respite during summer's hottest days.
—Heather Bien, Southern Living, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for respite
Recent Examples of Synonyms for respite
Noun
-
Mark my words, Rosewood will make travelers start regarding Phuket as a tasteful destination, to tack on as the beach break during trips to Bangkok or Singapore.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 June 2026
-
Despite the quick start, Vegas did catch a major break on a fortunate bounce to cut the lead to 2-1, a goal that was credited to Shea Theodore.—
Matt Reigle,
FOXNews.com,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
Anthropic, one of OpenAI’s top competitors, has proposed mechanisms for coordinating pauses on advanced AI development if systems become too powerful.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 June 2026
-
Located in the city's dynamic tech district, Whitefield, The Den Bengaluru seamlessly bridges heritage and innovation, offering an environment where guests can move seamlessly between focused work, casual connection, and moments of pause.—
Roger Sands,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
Noun
-
Back then, the economy saw a lull in productivity growth as a transformative new technology took hold.—
Diane Brady,
Fortune,
28 May 2026
-
That lull is deceptive and even stronger winds can quickly resume.—
Howard Cohen,
Miami Herald,
28 May 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 8 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
