1
as in rests
to get rid of nervous tension or anxiety
she took deep breaths to relax before going on stage
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in loosens
to make less taut
relax the rope a bit so I can pick up the slack and tie this knot
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in basks
to refrain from labor or exertion
I just want to kick back and relax after mowing that huge lawn
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of relaxes
The plaintiffs—three current students in Brooklyn yeshivas, their parents, and two former students—ask the courts to strike down a new law that relaxes oversight of nonpublic schools.
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Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025
Also, closing your mouth a bit relaxes your jaw muscles and gives you more space back there.
—Elizabeth Cohen, NBC news, 24 Aug. 2025
But the new guidance relaxes those limits.
—Sally Pipes, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for relaxes
Verb
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Our foul, flatulent father-figure may exaggerate a bit when belittling his enemies (and friends, for that matter), but cloaked under his aura of filth — like an adult Pig-Pen’s toxic dust cloud — rests a core truth.—
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Pull this three-seater sofa all the way out to create a sleeping space, and move around the arm rests and pillows to get the perfect hangout spot.—
Verb
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Paired with the vibrations of Tibetan singing bowls, the experience eases jet lag, loosens tight muscles and leaves body and mind in a state of meditative calm.—
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In such a scenario, reminiscent of the ‘70s, if the Fed loosens policy prematurely, inflation could spike, leading to the painful corrective measures seen under Powell’s predecessor Paul Volcker, who hiked rates aggressively and weathered severe, double-dip recessions.—
Verb
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Lorde's Nashville concert basks in rebirth Lorde walked onto the stage, sauntering down a catwalk as synths pulsed and a white laser beam shined her way.—
Verb
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This kind of political pressure on broadcasters and artists chills free speech and threatens the livelihoods of thousands of working Americans.—
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The Professor Watchlist has been denounced by faculty associations as a blacklist that chills academic freedom.—
Cite this Entry
“Relaxes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/relaxes. Accessed 30 Sep. 2025.
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