as in to relax
to get rid of nervous tension or anxiety
not being one for alcoholic beverages, I prefer to wind down with a cup of tea every night
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Recent Examples of wind down
So far, the band is planning to spend most of July in the U.K. before jumping over to North America in August for shows in Toronto, Chicago, New Jersey, Pasadena and Mexico City, then hitting Asia and Australia in the fall and winding down with shows in Argentina, Chile and Brazil in November.
—
Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 4 June 2025
President Donald Trump’s ambitious plan to broker dozens of trade deals with some of the United States’ closest trading partners has begun to show cracks as the clock on his 90-day pause for most country-specific tariffs winds down to just over one month.
—Shannon Pettypiece, NBC news, 3 June 2025
Reading a book on your phone or tablet may interfere with your body’s ability to relax and wind down for sleep.
—Carrie Madormo, Verywell Health, 3 June 2025
In the early 2000s, as the Pierce Brosnan James Bond era was winding down, critics noted that American studios seemed to be offering three different paths toward supplanting 007.
—Paul A. Thompson, Pitchfork, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for wind down
Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 4 June 2025
President Donald Trump’s ambitious plan to broker dozens of trade deals with some of the United States’ closest trading partners has begun to show cracks as the clock on his 90-day pause for most country-specific tariffs winds down to just over one month.
—Shannon Pettypiece, NBC news, 3 June 2025
Reading a book on your phone or tablet may interfere with your body’s ability to relax and wind down for sleep.
—Carrie Madormo, Verywell Health, 3 June 2025
In the early 2000s, as the Pierce Brosnan James Bond era was winding down, critics noted that American studios seemed to be offering three different paths toward supplanting 007.
—Paul A. Thompson, Pitchfork, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for wind down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wind down
Verb
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You First Blanco and Gomez got engaged in December 2024 Benny Blanco just wants to relax!—
Marina Watts,
People.com,
13 June 2025
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The decision appeared to relax a clampdown on America’s second-largest international student group.—
Julia Wick,
Los Angeles Times,
13 June 2025
Verb
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Between various lessons on packing, lodge etiquette on the trek to Base Camp, and where to ask for toilet paper, Coster returned again and again to reminders for the group to chill out and enjoy the journey.—
Ben Ayers,
Outside Online,
22 Apr. 2025
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In the last couple episodes, dude seemed to chill out and dull down his sharper edges.—
Nick Caruso,
TVLine,
7 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wind down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wind%20down. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
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