relaxation

noun

ˌrē-ˌlak-ˈsā-shən How to pronounce relaxation (audio)
Definition of relaxationnext
1
as in recreation
activity engaged in to amuse oneself what do people in this jerkwater town do for relaxation?

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in rest
freedom from activity or labor meditating in a state of total relaxation

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 relaxation The calming effects of both the strain and the tea help to enhance relaxation, while the sweet, fruity undertones of the cannabis match perfectly with the floral notes of the tea. — Matt Rozo, The Mercury News, 12 Mar. 2025 Magnesium supports nerve and muscle function and promotes relaxation by activating the neurotransmitter GABA, indirectly aiding sleep. — Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 10 Mar. 2025 Taking a birthing class, aromatherapy and relaxation breathing have all been touted to help women prepare for birth, and evidence suggests that exercising during pregnancy can also make for an easier delivery. — Dan Perry, Newsweek, 2 Mar. 2025 The local couple and wildlife enthusiasts offer both jungle-eco (departing daily at 11 a.m.) and relaxation cruises (departing daily at 5:30 p.m. or 6:30 p.m.) year-round. — Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 1 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for relaxation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for relaxation
  1. recreation
  2. rest
  3. fun
  4. leisure
  5. entertainment
  6. enjoyment
  7. amusement
Noun
  • From April 12, 2024 – May 20, 2024 the air conditioning system failed across the entire Beaumont camp, affecting all housing units, education buildings, chow hall, recreation, and administration offices.
    — Walter Pavlo, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
  • Mixing traditional doc methods with recreations and creepy genre-movie inflections, that film provided an unsettling exploration of sleep paralysis, a condition in which the mind is wide awake, but the body is frozen.
    — Damon Wise, Deadline, 8 Mar. 2025
Definition of recreation
Noun
  • The universe is encouraging you to lie low, rest, recharge and live in the moment.
    — Kyle Thomas, People.com, 16 Mar. 2025
  • World Sleep Day, which just passed on March 15, serves as an annual reminder of sleep's profound impact on our lives, but quality rest deserves our attention every day of the year.
    — Pooja Shah, Forbes, 16 Mar. 2025
Definition of rest
Noun
  • What is known is that Henry has inherited some of his father’s quirks, making the duo fun to watch together.
    — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 18 Mar. 2025
  • Luckily, The Athletic has seen into the future and can reveal that Manchester City, after ruining everyone’s fun by winning the 2025 FA Cup, are found guilty of all 115 charges and immediately relegated to the North West Counties Football League Division One North.
    — Tim Spiers, The Athletic, 18 Mar. 2025
Definition of fun
Noun
  • For those whose leisure time includes wine country travel, the Superieur and Exceptionnel levels also consider the overall visitor experience at each château, including public facilities and hospitality options.
    — Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 9 Mar. 2025
  • Injuries due to micromobility devices used for transportation and leisure increased by an average of 23% annually between 2017 and 2022, according to the report.
    — Katia Hetter, CNN, 5 Mar. 2025
Definition of leisure
Noun
  • Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free daily newsletter to get breaking entertainment news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more.
    — Gerrad Hall, EW.com, 17 Mar. 2025
  • Independence Avenue could be bolstered as an economic center, the street grid could be stitched back together with safer paths for people to get around on foot, and more land could be brought online for housing, businesses, entertainment and parks as downtown Kansas City continues to grow.
    — Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 17 Mar. 2025
Definition of entertainment
Noun
  • The natural base and silk petals will provide many seasons of enjoyment, and the wreath comes wired for easy mounting with a sturdy box for off-season storage.
    — Miles Walls, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Mar. 2025
  • Malone describes it as a wine built for both early enjoyment and long-term aging.
    — Rachel King, Forbes, 16 Mar. 2025
Definition of enjoyment
Noun
  • While getting a little too liberal with his wife's lorazepam prescription, Timothy Ratliff, the secret-keeping patriarch on this season of the White Lotus, groggily joins his family while wearing just a robe — then accidentally flashes them all to their amusement and/or horror.
    — Alexandra Schonfeld, People.com, 13 Mar. 2025
  • The hour unfolds through a big location, features dozens of extras, and its focus keeps shifting between the cops, the teachers, and various groups of students who are having wildly disparate responses to the murder, from overwhelming grief to juvenile amusement.
    — Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 11 Mar. 2025
Definition of amusement

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Cite this Entry

“Relaxation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/relaxation. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on relaxation

Nglish: Translation of relaxation for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about relaxation

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