as in break
a short period of time when you are able to stop doing something that is difficult or unpleasant or when something difficult or unpleasant stops or is delayed
The weekend provided a nice respite from the pressures of her job. a temporary respite
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Recent Examples of respite
One cannot help but feel that casting Leni Riefenstahl in a spectacle on live TV was about giving the viewing public respite from a terrible burden of national shame by finding someone to take the blame for it.
—
Daniel Jonah Wolpert, NPR, 8 Sep. 2025
That said, three days off before returning to Saturday’s lineup, was a welcome respite.
—Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Sep. 2025
Grilled pineapple, one of the two vegetarian options, provides a brief respite from the rich bites of meat with sweet and smoky fruit flavors.
—Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 5 Sep. 2025
These sequences — and cut-aways to other rare beasts — offer a magical respite from the underbaked plans of a man whose motive in finding the ghost elephants is never fully articulated.
—Sophie Monks Kaufman, IndieWire, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for respite
Daniel Jonah Wolpert, NPR, 8 Sep. 2025
That said, three days off before returning to Saturday’s lineup, was a welcome respite.
—Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Sep. 2025
Grilled pineapple, one of the two vegetarian options, provides a brief respite from the rich bites of meat with sweet and smoky fruit flavors.
—Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 5 Sep. 2025
These sequences — and cut-aways to other rare beasts — offer a magical respite from the underbaked plans of a man whose motive in finding the ghost elephants is never fully articulated.
—Sophie Monks Kaufman, IndieWire, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for respite
Recent Examples of Synonyms for respite
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
-
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
Noun
-
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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The lull during the 2024 season was attributed in part to a jet of winds over Africa that were pushing northward and not following the typical track off the coast, Kelly Núñez Ocasio, assistant professor in the atmospheric sciences department at Texas A&M University, previously told USA TODAY.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
16 Sep. 2025
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During the rare lull in service, McPherson watches over this scene from the bar, catching up with longtime customers and friends from the neighborhood.—
The Bon Appétit Staff,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Respite.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/respite. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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