Relaxed — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective verb /ri-ˈlakst/ re·laxed

Meaning & Definition of Relaxed

Relaxed (adjective)

  1. freed from or lacking in precision or stringency
  2. set or being at rest or at ease
  3. easy of manner, informal

Relaxed (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. enjoying physical comfort

    "the frazzled executive was totally relaxed after the warm bath"

    similar: canny (chiefly Scottish), comfortable, comfy, cozy, snug, at ease, at home
    related: toasty, warm, content, contented, pleased, satisfied, easeful, peaceful, resting, easygoing, laid-back, undisturbed, unperturbed, untroubled
    opposite: uncomfortable
    near: discontented, displeased, dissatisfied, agitated, disturbed, perturbed, troubled

  2. not bound by rigid standards

    "we're having a very relaxed staff meeting, and then everyone can get an early start on the long holiday weekend"

    similar: easygoing, flexible, lax, loose, slack, unrestrained, unrestricted
    related: careless, derelict, heedless, irresponsible, lazy, neglectful, negligent, remiss, slipshod, sloppy, sloven, slovenly, unfussy
    opposite: hard, harsh, rigid, rigorous, severe, stern, strict
    near: constrained, restrained, restricted, tight, careful, conscientious, exact, fussy, meticulous, painstaking, punctilious, scrupulous, implacable, inflexible

  3. not tightly fastened, tied, or stretched

    "the fishing line was relaxed and looped lazily into the pond"

    similar: insecure, lax, loose, loosened, slack, slackened, unsecured
    related: detached, free, unattached, unbound, undone, unfastened, untied, baggy, blousy, saggy
    opposite: taut, tense, tight
    near: constrained, restrained, attached, bound, fastened, tied, fast, firm, jammed, snug, stuck, wedged

Relaxed (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to get rid of nervous tension or anxiety

    "she took deep breaths to relax before going on stage"

    similar: chilled, chilled out (slang), decompressed, de-stressed, loosened up, mellowed (out), unwound, wound down, hung loose
    related: unbent, basked, kicked back, lolled, lounged, reposed, rested, bummed, dallied, dawdled, dillydallied, droned, footled, goofed (off), hacked (around), hung (around or out), idled, lazed, loafed, vegetated, vegged out, zoned out, alleviated, comforted, eased, relieved, calmed, composed, cooled, quieted, settled
    opposite: tensed (up)

  2. to make less taut

    "relax the rope a bit so I can pick up the slack and tie this knot"

    similar: eased, loosened, slacked, slackened
    related: detached, freed, unbound, undid, unfastened, untied
    opposite: strained, stretched, tensed, tensioned, tightened
    near: attached, bound, fastened, tied, constrained, restrained

  3. to refrain from labor or exertion

    "I just want to kick back and relax after mowing that huge lawn"

    similar: basked, kicked back, lolled, lounged, reposed, rested
    related: bummed, goldbricked, hung, hung about (British), hung around, idled, loafed, slacked (off), vegged out
    near: drudged, grubbed, humped, hustled, labored, moiled, pegged (away), plodded, plowed, plugged, slaved, slogged, strained, strove, struggled, sweat, toiled, travailed, worked, exercised, worked out

Related Entry: Relax (verb)

Relax is a different word from Relaxed. The synonyms below are for relax, not for relaxed.

  1. to get rid of nervous tension or anxiety

    "she took deep breaths to relax before going on stage"

    similar: chill, chill out (slang), decompress, de-stress, loosen up, mellow (out), unwind, wind down, hang loose
    related: unbend, bask, kick back, loll, lounge, repose, rest, bum, dally, dawdle, dillydally, drone, footle, goof (off), hack (around), hang (around or out), idle, laze, loaf, vegetate, veg out, zone out, alleviate, comfort, ease, relieve, calm, compose, cool, quiet, settle
    opposite: tense (up)

  2. to make less taut

    "relax the rope a bit so I can pick up the slack and tie this knot"

    similar: ease, loosen, slack, slacken
    related: detach, free, unbind, undo, unfasten, untie
    opposite: strain, stretch, tense, tension, tighten
    near: attach, bind, fasten, tie, constrain, restrain

  3. to refrain from labor or exertion

    "I just want to kick back and relax after mowing that huge lawn"

    similar: bask, kick back, loll, lounge, repose, rest
    related: bum, goldbrick, hang, hang about (British), hang around, idle, loaf, slack (off), veg out
    near: drudge, grub, hump, hustle, labor, moil, peg (away), plod, plow, plug, slave, slog, strain, strive, struggle, sweat, toil, travail, work, exercise, work out

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Relaxed

The most common words with a similar meaning to Relaxed:

Chiefly Scottish: canny
Slang: chilled out
comfortable, comfy, cozy, snug, easygoing, flexible, lax, loose, slack, unrestrained, unrestricted, insecure, loosened, slackened, unsecured, at ease, at home, chilled, decompressed, de-stressed, loosened up, mellowed (out), unwound, wound down, eased, slacked, basked, kicked back, lolled, lounged, reposed, rested, hung loose

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Relaxed

Words with the opposite meaning of Relaxed:

uncomfortable, hard, harsh, rigid, rigorous, severe, stern, strict, taut, tense, tight, tensed (up), strained, stretched, tensed, tensioned, tightened

Related Words for Relaxed

toasty, warm, content, contented, pleased, satisfied, easeful, peaceful, resting, laid-back, undisturbed, unperturbed, untroubled, careless, derelict, heedless, irresponsible, lazy, neglectful, negligent, remiss, slipshod, sloppy, sloven, slovenly, unfussy, detached, free, unattached, unbound

Near Antonyms of Relaxed

discontented, displeased, dissatisfied, agitated, disturbed, perturbed, troubled, constrained, restrained, restricted, careful, conscientious, exact, fussy, meticulous, painstaking, punctilious, scrupulous, implacable, inflexible, attached, bound, fastened, tied, fast, firm, jammed, snug, stuck, wedged

Word Forms of Relaxed

Derived words: relaxedly (adverb), relaxedness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Relaxed

First known use: circa 1623

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Relaxed

Frequently Asked Questions about Relaxed

What does "Relaxed" mean?

"Relaxed" means freed from or lacking in precision or stringency. As an an adjective and a verb, it is defined as: freed from or lacking in precision or stringency. It has 6 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Relaxed"?

Other words for "Relaxed" include canny, comfortable, comfy, cozy, snug, easygoing, flexible and lax. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Relaxed" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Relaxed"?

There are 102 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Relaxed". Common alternatives include canny, comfortable, comfy, cozy, snug, easygoing, flexible, lax, loose and slack.

What is the opposite of "Relaxed"?

Antonyms of "Relaxed" include uncomfortable, hard, harsh, rigid, rigorous, severe, stern and strict. Near antonyms include discontented, displeased, dissatisfied and agitated.

How do you use "Relaxed" in a sentence?

Examples of "Relaxed" in a sentence: "the frazzled executive was totally relaxed after the warm bath"; "we're having a very relaxed staff meeting, and then everyone can get an early start on the long holiday weekend"; "the fishing line was relaxed and looped lazily into the pond".

Is "Relaxed" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Relaxed" can be used as an adjective and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Relaxed" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B1-level word, "Relaxed" is typical of Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET), IELTS band 4.0–5.0, TOEFL iBT 42–71, PTE Academic 43–58, TOEIC Listening & Reading 550+. It is on the Academic Word List, so it appears often in IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, and university texts.

How do you pronounce "Relaxed"?

"Relaxed" is pronounced /ri-ˈlakst/ and divided into syllables as re·laxed.