Synonyms of wind down

wind down

verb

as in to relax

to get rid of nervous tension or anxiety

not being one for alcoholic beverages, I prefer to wind down with a cup of tea every night

Synonyms & Similar Words

• relax
• chill out
• rest
• mellow (out)
• loosen up
• hang loose
• chill
• unwind
• decompress
• compose
• bask
• de-stress
• kick back
• hack (around)
• settle
• goof (off)
• hang (around or out)
• veg out
• lounge
• bum
• comfort
• alleviate
• unbend
• idle
• zone out
• footle
• calm
• relieve
• repose
• ease
• loaf
• cool
• drone
• loll
• vegetate
• dawdle
• laze
• quiet
• dillydally
• dally

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• tense (up)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of wind down

But worn sheets, flat pillows, and a comforter that’s lost its fluff can make winding down less inviting. — Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 19 Sep. 2026

In autumn, the expansive porch is ideal for sipping coffee in the morning and winding down with a glass of wine in the evening. — Abby Price, Travel + Leisure, 19 Sep. 2026

Some Providence parents shook their heads as the clock wound down; others shouted expletives toward school administrators and Nazareth players. — Lila Hempel-Edgers, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2026

As the season winds down and work routines return, reading tends to move indoors and become more private. — Nora Krug, Washington Post, 19 Sep. 2026