1
as in pause
a temporary halt in an activity or condition
The pool offered a welcome reprieve from the heat.
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2
as in parole
law
a temporary release from the obligation to serve punishment for a crime
The judge ordered a reprieve of the execution so the accused would have time to appeal the decision.
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1
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of reprieve
Essence, 20 May 2025
Musk’s reprieves: Regulatory problems that have dogged tech billionaire Elon Musk and his business empire in recent years have begun to melt away under the Trump administration.
—Amina Kilpatrick, NBC news, 11 May 2025
Mark Gray, People.com, 10 Sep. 2025
And just when listeners are ready to ride at dawn to avenge that boy, the final three songs offer reprieve.
—Jae-Ha Kim, Rolling Stone, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reprieve
Noun
The act of hospitality is a practice of rest, reprieve, and community repair.
—Essence, 20 May 2025
Musk’s reprieves: Regulatory problems that have dogged tech billionaire Elon Musk and his business empire in recent years have begun to melt away under the Trump administration.
—Amina Kilpatrick, NBC news, 11 May 2025
Verb
Then, though, a famous friend came through with some financial reprieve via an unremarkable delivery method.
—Mark Gray, People.com, 10 Sep. 2025
And just when listeners are ready to ride at dawn to avenge that boy, the final three songs offer reprieve.
—Jae-Ha Kim, Rolling Stone, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reprieve
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reprieve
Noun
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The pause will last three years and could save restaurants $850 in fees annually while potentially boosting their sales.—
Chris Higgins,
Kansas City Star,
15 Sep. 2025
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People hear your tone, your pauses, your personality.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
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In a two-page ruling, the court lifted a stay issued by a district court and is allowing the administration to end humanitarian parole for those groups while the lawsuit plays out.—
Michael Casey,
Twin Cities,
13 Sep. 2025
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RRCs also help with securing housing, reconnecting with family, and complying with parole or probation requirements.—
Walter Pavlo,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Polish state media also reported that Polish nationals have been pardoned.—
Darya Tarasova,
CNN Money,
11 Sep. 2025
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In the end, Frizer was found to have acted in self-defense and officially pardoned by the Queen.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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More viscous than your average face mist, the milky formula is laced with ceramides and lipids to relieve tight, thirsty skin and refresh dull, dry-looking makeup without so much as a flush or a tingle.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
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You may be relieved to know that this book does not involve a gigantic replica of anyone’s birth canal.—
Jamie Harrow,
PEOPLE,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The technical college has experienced long delays between losing an instructor and hiring another, resulting in program interruptions and delayed completion for students, including in accounting, massage therapy and automotive services.—
Elizabeth Hernandez,
Denver Post,
19 Sep. 2025
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Smart cities must plan for potential breaches and create systems that can withstand and recover rapidly from interruption.—
Chuck Brooks,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Newsom granted a commutation to Arthur Battle, convicted of murder for a 2006 contract killing.—
Daniel Lempres,
Sacbee.com,
31 Aug. 2025
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The commutation, one of 10 granted by the governor Friday, allows Cuong Tran to make his case for parole earlier than expected.—
Jason Green,
Mercury News,
30 Aug. 2025
Verb
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In addition to the other crimes, court documents note Denis allegedly aided in filing false joint tax returns in 2018, 2019 and 2020, resulting in claims of hundreds of thousands of fraudulent refunds each year.—
Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
14 Sep. 2025
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The album’s sales gain was aided by the wide release of its standard 12-track CD to brick-and-mortar retailers.—
Keith Caulfield,
Billboard,
14 Sep. 2025
Noun
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So while cells in a younger person (that were continuously exposed to estrogen prior to HRT) might benefit from a fresh influx of estrogen, ones that had a break from that estrogen bath might react negatively to it.—
Erica Sloan,
SELF,
15 Sep. 2025
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Midday daylight breaks help sustain energy, while dim, warmer light in the evening primes the mind for recovery.—
Julian Hayes II,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Reprieve.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reprieve. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
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