as in soothing
tending to calm the emotions and relieve stress
a relaxing cup of chamomile tea
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in chilling
to get rid of nervous tension or anxiety
she took deep breaths to relax before going on stage
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in loosening
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 resting
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of relaxing
Talia Avakian, Travel + Leisure, 14 May 2026
There’s the relaxing and meditative Cinq Mondes & Vinésime Spa, cooking classes, a gym, tennis, padel and pickleball courts, yoga and Pilates classes, fishing, vineyard safaris, sommelier master classes, seasonal truffle hunting and more.
—Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2026
Surrounding yourself with plants and flowers creates a more relaxing environment.
—Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 13 May 2026
Understanding why noise happens and how to avoid it can make the difference between a relaxing trip and a frustrating one.
—David Nikel, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026
In the photos, Biles and Owens, 30, enjoyed a relaxing day by the pool.
—Christopher Edwards, PEOPLE, 5 May 2026
This spring, just outside the dining room, Shahniani will add the Expoterrace, a relaxing patio with a fountain, waterfalls and lush plants inspired by Living with the Land at Epcot in Florida.
—Tribune News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 May 2026
Hot Spring Spas’ 10 most relaxing beaches 1.
—Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2026
Prague is well-positioned for sightseeing while being removed enough from the cacophony of Old Town to make for a relaxing stay.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Apr. 2026
Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 16 May 2026
That might mean booking a chance to buy beer from Belgian monks who like to keep things quiet, or relaxing on a Tuscan farm with a lager made from hops grown nearby.
—Jim Dobson, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026
For now, Benyamin will spend some time relaxing after a grueling five years of work.
—Allison Kiehl, Chicago Tribune, 16 May 2026
The water park is open on weekends in May and features exciting water rides, a relaxing lazy river, and wave pool.
—Natassia Paloma, USA Today, 15 May 2026
The comfortable seating area in the living room includes couches and armchairs set in front of the TV and fireplace for relaxing after a day on the slopes, and a dining table provides a nice spot to relax and eat.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 May 2026
The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals responded a few days later by ruling the FDA erred by relaxing its regulations to allow for dispensing the pills by mail.
—Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026
So, say goodbye to rough rubbing and hello to relaxing, sensorial skincare application.
—Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 14 May 2026
Shrubs contribute to a more aesthetic and relaxing atmosphere, adding colorful foliage, flowers, and fragrance to outdoor rooms.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 14 May 2026
Adjective
Chena Hot Springs Resort, Fairbanks, Alaska For a relaxing dip, Chena Hot Springs Resort in Fairbanks, Alaska, has a hot spring-fed lake that stays around 106 degrees year-round.
—Talia Avakian, Travel + Leisure, 14 May 2026
There’s the relaxing and meditative Cinq Mondes & Vinésime Spa, cooking classes, a gym, tennis, padel and pickleball courts, yoga and Pilates classes, fishing, vineyard safaris, sommelier master classes, seasonal truffle hunting and more.
—Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2026
Surrounding yourself with plants and flowers creates a more relaxing environment.
—Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 13 May 2026
Understanding why noise happens and how to avoid it can make the difference between a relaxing trip and a frustrating one.
—David Nikel, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026
In the photos, Biles and Owens, 30, enjoyed a relaxing day by the pool.
—Christopher Edwards, PEOPLE, 5 May 2026
This spring, just outside the dining room, Shahniani will add the Expoterrace, a relaxing patio with a fountain, waterfalls and lush plants inspired by Living with the Land at Epcot in Florida.
—Tribune News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 May 2026
Hot Spring Spas’ 10 most relaxing beaches 1.
—Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2026
Prague is well-positioned for sightseeing while being removed enough from the cacophony of Old Town to make for a relaxing stay.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Apr. 2026
Verb
The Prince of Wales spent part of his summer in 1997 relaxing along the banks of the River Dee in Scotland.
—Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 16 May 2026
That might mean booking a chance to buy beer from Belgian monks who like to keep things quiet, or relaxing on a Tuscan farm with a lager made from hops grown nearby.
—Jim Dobson, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026
For now, Benyamin will spend some time relaxing after a grueling five years of work.
—Allison Kiehl, Chicago Tribune, 16 May 2026
The water park is open on weekends in May and features exciting water rides, a relaxing lazy river, and wave pool.
—Natassia Paloma, USA Today, 15 May 2026
The comfortable seating area in the living room includes couches and armchairs set in front of the TV and fireplace for relaxing after a day on the slopes, and a dining table provides a nice spot to relax and eat.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 May 2026
The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals responded a few days later by ruling the FDA erred by relaxing its regulations to allow for dispensing the pills by mail.
—Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026
So, say goodbye to rough rubbing and hello to relaxing, sensorial skincare application.
—Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 14 May 2026
Shrubs contribute to a more aesthetic and relaxing atmosphere, adding colorful foliage, flowers, and fragrance to outdoor rooms.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 14 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for relaxing
Adjective
-
Opt for the signature Polynesian massage, which mimics soothing wave-like movements from head to toe.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 May 2026
-
The formula includes hyaluronic acid and vitamin E, giving it a soothing, balm-like feel that softens lips overnight.—
Symiah Dorsey,
Southern Living,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
The spiral of menace is breathtaking as Gary continues to dig them in deeper with his misplaced confidence and reckless moves, and a bone-chilling warning left in the dead of night forces Irwin to bring Hester up to date.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
16 May 2026
-
Chill until ready to use (cover if chilling for longer than 30 minutes).—
Claire Saffitz,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
The Fed should shift from passively loosening to effectively tightening via its statements about its future course.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
19 May 2026
-
The results suggest a broad surge in support for loosening restrictions on research into substances such as psilocybin and MDMA to probe their potential for medical use.—
Jackie Flynn Mogensen,
Scientific American,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
Harris introduces us to the girls in a sepia flashback, their small bodies clad in matching dresses, one head resting on the other’s shoulder.—
Katie Walsh,
Boston Herald,
15 May 2026
-
What makes the business especially impressive is that its success is not resting on personality alone.—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Both the business and household sectors contributed to this improvement, a meaningful indicator that the post-pandemic leverage build-up is unwinding.—
Mayra Rodriguez Valladares,
Forbes.com,
9 May 2026
-
Abel is already moving to put his stamp on the roughly $300 billion basket, reportedly unwinding positions tied to former investment manager Todd Combs after his departure for JPMorgan at the end of 2025.—
Yun Li,
CNBC,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
The video opens with Earle lounging by the beach, basking in the sun.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
13 May 2026
-
The resort-style pool’s sun shelf provides the perfect perch for basking in the sun or for children to splash in the shallow water, while surrounding decks offer umbrellas and chaises.—
Pulte Homes,
Miami Herald,
11 May 2026
Adjective
-
The authors of the study found that, although honesty remains important overall, many individuals actually preferred comforting or reassuring dishonesty over the harsh truth in certain situations.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
-
Sunday Chicken tastes deeply savory and comforting, with the mustard and oregano giving the crispy skin a subtle tang and herbaceous warmth.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
Viewers play them while sleeping, studying, meditating or just decompressing.—
Samantha Agate,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Mar. 2026
-
But sound healing is more than just decompressing.—
Britt Julious,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Relaxing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/relaxing. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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