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
Every schedule crescendos and relaxes in terms of travel difficulty, but the Broncos have been on a particularly brutal run recently.
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Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 7 Nov. 2025
That first episode suffers from the need to do so much heavy lifting and feels both overstuffed and overly conventional, but once all the pieces are in place, the show relaxes into itself and its actual voice emerges.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 2 Nov. 2025
Doctors prescribe prazosin, which relaxes blood vessels, to help lower blood pressure.
—CNN Money, 31 Oct. 2025
Where is the mild varietal that recalls an afternoon garden, the smoke that relaxes without disorienting?
—Jahan Marcu, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2025
The structure reopens and relaxes when conditions settle.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2025
The second sound – the dub – occurs when the valves leading out of the heart close as the heart relaxes and refills with blood.
—Joshua Hutcheson, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2025
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.
—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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for relaxes
Verb
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The belief that the Maduro episode could be replicated in Iran also rests on a misleading comparison.—
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But according to multiple sources with direct knowledge of the post-raid landscape, that assumption rests on dangerously fragile ground.—
Verb
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Fortunately, the BreezyClear Pro is equipped to address all the baby’s needs from the beginning to the end of the decongestion process; by briefly misting the nasal passages, the device loosens mucus so its powerful suction can remove it quickly and without fuss.—
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Ray’s hand loosens its grip on the weapon.—
Verb
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The Central Valley city basks in around 265 days of sunshine.—
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Like this Earth sign, this recurring float basks in abundance and is deliciously on-brand with the Thanksgiving staple.—
Verb
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Winds chills in the mountains could hit 0 to minus 10 degrees, the NWS says.—
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When that happens, Arctic air chills temperatures in other regions.—
Verb
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Below, Usher gives AD a peek into his life in Atlanta, dad duties, and how a hitmaker unwinds at home.—
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Here are the five scenes where Hollywood still unwinds, one fry, martini and romaine leaf at a time.—
Cite this Entry
“Relaxes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/relaxes. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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