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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of winding down
The major weekend snowstorm in Minnesota is winding down Sunday evening, but a NEXT Weather Alert will remain in effect through overnight Monday.
—
Aki Nace, CBS News, 15 Mar. 2026
North Korea has repeatedly rejected Washington and Seoul’s calls to resume diplomacy aimed at winding down its nuclear program.
—ABC News, 14 Mar. 2026
The age of species discovery is not winding down.
—Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 6 Mar. 2026
Buxton was home in Georgia this off-season, winding down by the fireplace on his patio after a family visit to the Happiest Place On Earth.
—Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
This native perennial produces beautiful daisy-like flowers late in summer into fall, just when many other plants are winding down for the season.
—Lynn McAlpine, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Mar. 2026
The night, winding down, promised to be memorable.
—Yiyun Li, New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2026
That’s the highest year-over-year inflation rate for that category in more than two years (when goods were winding down from the pandemic-era inflationary burst).
—Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 27 Feb. 2026
With the match winding down near the 88th minute, three fans ran onto the pitch.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 27 Feb. 2026
Aki Nace, CBS News, 15 Mar. 2026
North Korea has repeatedly rejected Washington and Seoul’s calls to resume diplomacy aimed at winding down its nuclear program.
—ABC News, 14 Mar. 2026
The age of species discovery is not winding down.
—Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 6 Mar. 2026
Buxton was home in Georgia this off-season, winding down by the fireplace on his patio after a family visit to the Happiest Place On Earth.
—Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
This native perennial produces beautiful daisy-like flowers late in summer into fall, just when many other plants are winding down for the season.
—Lynn McAlpine, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Mar. 2026
The night, winding down, promised to be memorable.
—Yiyun Li, New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2026
That’s the highest year-over-year inflation rate for that category in more than two years (when goods were winding down from the pandemic-era inflationary burst).
—Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 27 Feb. 2026
With the match winding down near the 88th minute, three fans ran onto the pitch.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 27 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for winding down
Verb
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Recognizing these and other common issues many pregnant and postpartum women experience while using the toilet, Ohio-originating smart toilet manufacturer Uncle Brown engineered a solution that makes using the bathroom a comfortable and relaxing experience.—
Ethan Stone,
USA Today,
15 Mar. 2026
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Guests can enjoy the inn’s private gardens and one of its four relaxing pools, which were inspired by Hemingway’s nearby estate.—
Teaghan Skulszki,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Raw Silk Skincare Washcloths are an all-natural, reusable exfoliating cloth, designed for gently loosening up dead skin cells and makeup.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
10 Mar. 2026
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Inventory loosening up One sign the housing market is loosening is an increasing ratio of sellers to buyers.—
Mary Cunningham,
CBS News,
6 Mar. 2026
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 18 Mar. 2026.
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