Synonyms of relaxing

relaxing 1 of 2

adjective

as in soothing

tending to calm the emotions and relieve stress

a relaxing cup of chamomile tea

Synonyms & Similar Words

• soothing
• tranquilizing
• comforting
• calming
• hypnotic
• quieting
• sedative
• dreamy
• narcotic
• lulling
• depressant
• opiate
• pacifying
• analgesic
• deadening
• anesthetic
• anodyne
• antidepressant
• antianxiety
• numbing
• antistress
• antidepression

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• painful
• stressful
• tiresome
• troubling
• unsettling
• trying
• stimulating
• worrisome
• stimulant
• troublesome
• frustrating
• disturbing
• annoying
• energizing
• irritating
• aggravating
• invigorating
• bothersome
• maddening
• exasperating
• irksome
• vexatious
• vexing
• galling
• harassing
• grating
• nettlesome

relaxing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of relax

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

• chilling
• resting
• unwinding
• decompressing
• basking
• de-stressing
• hanging loose
• loosening up
• winding down
• calming
• composing
• mellowing (out)
• lounging
• chilling out
• comforting
• settling
• lazing
• relieving
• loafing
• cooling
• idling
• lolling
• alleviating
• bumming
• reposing
• unbending
• hanging (around or out)
• easing
• quieting
• vegetating
• dawdling
• kicking back
• droning
• hacking (around)
• goofing (off)
• dillydallying
• vegging out
• zoning out
• footling
• dallying

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• tensing (up)

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

• loosening
• slacking
• slackening
• easing
• detaching
• freeing
• untying
• undoing
• unfastening
• unbinding

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• stretching
• tightening
• straining
• binding
• tying
• attaching
• tensing
• fastening
• restraining
• tensioning
• constraining

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

• resting
• basking
• lounging
• hanging
• reposing
• lolling
• kicking back
• idling
• loafing
• hanging around
• bumming
• slacking (off)
• hanging about
• vegging out
• goldbricking

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• working
• laboring
• struggling
• striving
• sweating
• plowing
• plugging
• plodding
• hustling
• straining
• toiling
• slaving
• grubbing
• pegging (away)
• slogging
• exercising
• humping
• drudging
• working out
• travailing
• moiling

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of relaxing

Adjective

What should be a relaxing weekend quickly veers off course as Chuck inserts himself into the group and tests the limits of their patience. — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 18 Sep. 2026

Common Mistakes Deadheading can be a relaxing task, but don’t overdo it. — Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 15 Sep. 2026

Warm White Choose a warm, creamy white with gentle yellow undertones to create a relaxing feel. — Kristin Hohenadel, The Spruce, 13 Sep. 2026

Though the atmosphere was relaxing, Sheeran kept himself busy, writing music at the lake house in Hendersonville, a suburb about 17 miles outside of Nashville. — Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 11 Sep. 2026

And for those seeking quiet, Rister suggests an easy-going stay in some of the most relaxing spa hotels in the Peloponnese for some true rest—Euphoria Retreat in Mystras and Manna Arcadia. — Matt Ortile, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Sep. 2026

For a more relaxing walk right in the city, the Royal Botanical Gardens spans more than 2,100 acres and connects Hamilton with the neighboring city of Burlington, Ontario. — Maryam Siddiqi, Travel + Leisure, 9 Sep. 2026

Diamond Art Diamond art has gained popularity in the crafting community recently for its relaxing, repetitive tasks and professional-looking results. — Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Sep. 2026

The publication also describes baking as a relaxing alternative to scrolling through social media. — Ashley Lynch, Charlotte Observer, 3 Sep. 2026

Verb

Meanwhile, by relaxing the rules around third-party apps, WordPress now offers more power, flexibility, and options to expand your site's capabilities than Webflow does. — Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 14 Sep. 2026

But there are plenty of in-house attractions, too, from the art-gallery-style collection of contemporary works to the relaxing rooftop pool to the modern Restaurant H3. — Morgan Goldberg, Architectural Digest, 11 Sep. 2026

Bertrand is a hands-on boss, and even when relaxing by the pool or doing a little skeet shooting, a worried one. — Jessica Kiang, Variety, 11 Sep. 2026

Signaling improving ties, India and China have resumed direct flights, with New Delhi also relaxing rules around Chinese investment in India. — Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 11 Sep. 2026

Parisians who aren’t at the beach or lounging by the pool at Primard are relaxing with purpose in their home city. — Laura Dannen Redman, Robb Report, 10 Sep. 2026

They’re fitted through the waist and thigh, before relaxing into the perfect slouchy, baggy fit. — Kate Donovan, Southern Living, 9 Sep. 2026

The Flimby Garden was designed by Burnham, its first garden design, and is intended to be a restorative, relaxing space for employees to step away from their busy work days. — Riley Jones, Footwear News, 8 Sep. 2026

Other shots showed Yarmosky posing on the vessel in front of the picturesque surroundings, Holmes making a heart shape in the water and relaxing on the boat. — Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2026