winter

noun

ˈwin-tər How to pronounce winter (audio)
Definition of winternext
as in lull
a period of often involuntary inactivity or idleness during the long winter when the party was out of power, it had plenty of time to reconsider its political priorities

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 winter While The Neell New York is under construction, The Little Nell in Aspen will temporarily close in April 2027 to undergo a comprehensive renovation and reopen in time for the 2027-2028 winter season. — Everett Potter, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026 The northeastern island is breezy year-round, and those winds can pick up in the winter and spring. — Maya Kachroo-Levine, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026 Scientists say a powerful El Niño is developing now, raising chances of wetter winters in parts of the South and drier, warmer conditions across sections of the North. — Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 7 July 2026 According to Green, the winter months are the better time of year to run a humidifier since the weather gets dry and humidity levels run low in this season. — Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 7 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for winter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for winter
  1. lull
  2. break
  3. downtime
  4. layoff
  5. recess
Noun
  • Parties have exploited lulls in fighting to buy time, rebuild capabilities and consolidate political or territorial gains ahead of the next round of conflict.
    — Anthony Wanis-St John, The Conversation, 10 July 2026
  • Oceanfront has long been treated as the aristocrat of waterfront living, prized for its horizon lines, lull of the tide and powerful symbolism of standing where land gives way.
    — Spencer Elliott, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
Definition of lull
Noun
  • The Rangers will have one final game before the All-Star break against the Astros and will look to regain momentum.
    — Cal Phillips Updated July 11, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 July 2026
  • Last year at the All-Star break, the Sox were 32-65 and 27 games back in the AL Central.
    — Jon Greenberg, New York Times, 12 July 2026
Definition of break
Noun
  • Automation cuts down the downtime between the mixing, extrusion, and spinning phases.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 10 July 2026
  • One of the most important things for me while traveling is having a bit of downtime, whether that be ensuring a good night's sleep, relaxing for an hour or two in a plush hotel bed, or just sitting in a café on my own sipping a latte in silence.
    — Jamie Spain, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 July 2026
Definition of downtime
Noun
  • At the same time the chip industry expects to see a worker shortfall, the AI boom — and companies’ rush to invest in it — has also been blamed for layoffs in other parts of the labor market, including in the tech industry.
    — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 8 July 2026
  • With all the terrible news of layoffs and that the games industry is in a dire state, some people online have said a crash is the only way to fix things.
    — Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
Definition of layoff
Noun
  • The bill will be eligible for a vote in front of the entire Senate when legislators return next month from their summer recess.
    — Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 11 July 2026
  • To accommodate setbacks and height restrictions, the house rises four stories, with bays and recesses that break up the massing so the house doesn’t loom over its neighbors.
    — Fred Albert, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026
Definition of recess

Browse Nearby Words

wins (over)
winter
winterly
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Winter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/winter. Accessed 14 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on winter

Nglish: Translation of winter for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about winter

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