DECOMPRESS Synonyms: 41 Similar and Opposite Words

decompress

verb

ˌdē-kəm-ˈpres

as in to relax

to get rid of nervous tension or anxiety after she gets home from work, she needs some time to decompress before preparing dinner

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

tense (up)

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 decompress How did Gilpin decompress after portraying a new mother in such a wild scene? —

Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 9 June 2026 Blake took this season off to decompress and mull over his next move after mutually agreeing to step down as Kings GM last spring. —

Pierre Lebrun, New York Times, 5 June 2026 Rushing to daycare for pickup or taking a few minutes after work to decompress and run errands. —

Joy Harden Bradford, AJC.com, 4 June 2026 The better reason to stay here is to spend three days decompressing. —

Lauren Mowery, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for decompress

Recent Examples of Synonyms for decompress

relax

Verb

Marcy Park is a place where families, pets, and Highlands Ranch residents go to relax, and where Laura Nelson saw an opportunity to engage with her community.

— Gabriela Vidal, CBS News, 30 June 2026
One of its earliest central promises was to relax Howard’s gun laws.

— Oscar Schwartz, New Yorker, 29 June 2026