as in relaxing
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
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Recent Examples of winding down
Survivor 50 Challenge Like the Road to 50 marathon, the Survivor 50 Challenge is winding down.
—
Christopher Kuhagen, jsonline.com, 20 Feb. 2026
Despite the White House saying that Operation Metro Surge is winding down, its impacts are still very present, as people stayed home from work out of fear of being detained.
—Frankie McLister, CBS News, 18 Feb. 2026
Middlebury College, in Vermont, is similarly winding down its graduate programs in Monterey, California.
—Rose Horowitch, The Atlantic, 18 Feb. 2026
Democrats and Republicans can't agree on ICE Despite news Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, will be winding down operations in Minnesota, lawmakers are at odds over its funding.
—Zachary Schermele, Louisville Courier Journal, 13 Feb. 2026
For many people, dessert is a nightly ritual—something sweet after dinner to signal the day is winding down.
—Morgan Pearson, Verywell Health, 11 Feb. 2026
This shift is so total that Tesla is winding down production of its veteran Model S and Model X vehicles to repurpose its California factory for the mass production of Optimus humanoid robots.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 9 Feb. 2026
Allen has emphasized that winding down her brother’s $20 billion-plus estate could take years, maybe decades.
—Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
The rain is expected to begin winding down Thursday night as the storm system moves on.
—Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 7 Jan. 2026
Christopher Kuhagen, jsonline.com, 20 Feb. 2026
Despite the White House saying that Operation Metro Surge is winding down, its impacts are still very present, as people stayed home from work out of fear of being detained.
—Frankie McLister, CBS News, 18 Feb. 2026
Middlebury College, in Vermont, is similarly winding down its graduate programs in Monterey, California.
—Rose Horowitch, The Atlantic, 18 Feb. 2026
Democrats and Republicans can't agree on ICE Despite news Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, will be winding down operations in Minnesota, lawmakers are at odds over its funding.
—Zachary Schermele, Louisville Courier Journal, 13 Feb. 2026
For many people, dessert is a nightly ritual—something sweet after dinner to signal the day is winding down.
—Morgan Pearson, Verywell Health, 11 Feb. 2026
This shift is so total that Tesla is winding down production of its veteran Model S and Model X vehicles to repurpose its California factory for the mass production of Optimus humanoid robots.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 9 Feb. 2026
Allen has emphasized that winding down her brother’s $20 billion-plus estate could take years, maybe decades.
—Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
The rain is expected to begin winding down Thursday night as the storm system moves on.
—Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 7 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for winding down
Verb
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Upgrade your outdoor space, refresh your living room, style a relaxing bedroom, and get your dining room ready for entertaining.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
22 Feb. 2026
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In conjunction with a relaxing lavender and tea tree scent, there’s also a botanical blend of fumaria tea and swertia japonica extract to soothe irritation, boost circulation, and promote a healthier scalp environment.—
Lily Wohlner,
Allure,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Part of that is loosening up streamers’ bids for lengthy contract terms on series, potentially in exchange for less money.—
K.J. Yossman,
Variety,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
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If holiday burnout has you in the mood for rest and relaxation, the star advises taking a break to enjoy one of her favorite holiday traditions—chilling out at home with the family.—
Essence,
Essence,
15 Dec. 2025
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As the moon and Venus connect, chilling out doesn’t have to be a snooze-fest.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Winding down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/winding%20down. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.
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