1
as in pauses
a temporary halt in an activity or condition
The pool offered a welcome reprieve from the heat.
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2
as in commutations
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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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of reprieves
David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2025
Newsom has issued 247 pardons, 160 commutations and 42 reprieves since taking office, his office said.
—Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 31 Aug. 2025
Verb
If moments like that suggest that Bigelow weaves in occasional reprieves from the anxiety, that’s not the case.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2025
Newsom has issued 247 pardons, 160 commutations and 42 reprieves since taking office, his office said.
—Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 31 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reprieves
Noun
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Unlike the more elite schools, community colleges and state schools often do not have hundreds of thousands of dollars to lobby Congress, let alone finance litigation or support students impacted by federal funding cuts or pauses.—
Leadership Brainery,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
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In May, Axios obtained audio from Biden's October 2023 interview with special counsel Robert Hur, which showed memory lapses and prolonged pauses.—
Kate Plummer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Newsom has issued 247 pardons, 160 commutations and 42 reprieves since taking office, his office said.—
Daniel Lempres,
Sacbee.com,
31 Aug. 2025
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In addition to the commutations, Newsom also granted 23 pardons Friday.—
Jason Green,
Mercury News,
30 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Trump pardons couple in 2025 Julie, 52, was sentenced to seven years at the Federal Medical Center in Lexington, though that sentence was eventually reduced.—
Marina Johnson,
Louisville Courier Journal,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
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That relieves the burden on the central network, which lowers the risk of blackouts and congestion.—
Ken Silverstein,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
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This lavender version relieves muscle tension, soothes aches and softens skin while relaxing your mind in fragrant floral steam.—
Jené Luciani Sena , Caitlyn Martyn
may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom.,
FOXNews.com,
14 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Guard members usually need to be on orders for more than 30 days to qualify for benefits, and multiple extensions to orders can sometimes cause interruptions.—
Ross O'Keefe,
The Washington Examiner,
4 Sep. 2025
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Both retirement and disability benefits proceed without interruptions.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Of course, that might change if Google releases Project Mariner for the masses.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
11 Sep. 2025
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Its online map displays readouts from people’s at-home sensors, better reflecting if a nearby traffic jam or mail truck is spiking fumes, a neighbor starts burning trash, or a local factory releases a smoke plume.—
Matt Fuchs,
Time,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Although their paroles were denied, the brothers can ask the parole board to review the case for errors, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.—
Emily Shapiro,
ABC News,
22 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The technique is also critical in material science for understanding the properties of materials, which aids in the design of new ones.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Sep. 2025
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Promotes Digestive Health The fiber in avocados aids digestive health by increasing gut bacteria diversity and promoting regularity.—
Sherri Gordon,
Health,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Reprieves.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reprieves. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.
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