1
as in pause
a temporary halt in an activity or condition
The pool offered a welcome reprieve from the heat.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in parole
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.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
as in to relieve
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 reprieve
Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 6 Feb. 2025
Trump’s tariffs were set to kick in on Tuesday morning, before last-minute agreements gave Canada and Mexico a month-long reprieve.
—William Gavin, Quartz, 6 Feb. 2025
Eric Cortellessa, TIME, 22 Jan. 2025
Trump has now promised to issue an executive order on Monday to reprieve TikTok's ban, going against the original wishes of the Republican Party.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 19 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reprieve
Noun
President Donald Trump on Monday delayed the 25% tariff he was set to impose on imports from Canada and Mexico this week, providing a 30-day reprieve for American retailers and manufacturers.
—Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 6 Feb. 2025
Trump’s tariffs were set to kick in on Tuesday morning, before last-minute agreements gave Canada and Mexico a month-long reprieve.
—William Gavin, Quartz, 6 Feb. 2025
Verb
Among those reprieved were members of far-right extremist groups.
—Eric Cortellessa, TIME, 22 Jan. 2025
Trump has now promised to issue an executive order on Monday to reprieve TikTok's ban, going against the original wishes of the Republican Party.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 19 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reprieve
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reprieve
Noun
-
An offer sheet for this player would need to be significant to give Bowman pause, so $10 million times seven seasons would need to be a comfort zone for an opposition general manager.—
Allan Mitchell,
The Athletic,
21 Feb. 2025
-
The program is on pause after legal challenges from states, and the amount of savings its elimination could generate, $150 billion or more, depends on the status of the litigation.—
Margot Sanger-Katz,
New York Times,
21 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Cruz was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the shooting that claimed the lives of 14 students and three staff members.—
Nicole Acosta,
People.com,
14 Feb. 2025
-
Dawson will be eligible for parole, also known as pardon in Fiji, after 18 years.—
Michael Ruiz,
Fox News,
13 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Joe Biden later pardoned him of all the charges shortly before leaving office.—
Cybele Mayes-Osterman,
USA TODAY,
19 Feb. 2025
-
The following day, President Donald Trump pardoned former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, the disgraced Illinois politician convicted more than 13 years ago on an array of federal corruption charges.—
Grace Miserocchi,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
According to a press release, Capt. Dave Snowden was relieved due to a loss of confidence in his ability to command.—
Greg Wehner,
Fox News,
20 Feb. 2025
-
Eddy Diaz, 66, a Bolivian immigrant who runs a soccer supply store along a busy stretch of Roosevelt Avenue in Jackson Heights, Queens, was relieved last year when the police shut down a brothel that had opened next to his storefront.—
Andy Newman,
New York Times,
19 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Now Marylanders are experiencing high-cost electric bills and could experience service interruptions and blackouts.—
Teresa Reilly,
Baltimore Sun,
20 Feb. 2025
-
The 2013 study also found that women were nearly five times as likely as men to report sleep interruptions as a result of caregiving, usually for a child.—
Melinda Wenner Moyer,
New York Times,
18 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Presidents have broad authority to issue pardons and commutations, so long as the crimes are federal offenses and not state ones.—
Kathryn Watson,
CBS News,
21 Feb. 2025
-
Then, on April 3, 2024, for the first time in over three decades, DeLeon would get to experience life as a free man after being granted commutation for good behavior and advocacy work behind bars.—
Tabius McCoy,
Hartford Courant,
20 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Body cameras also aid in training, improve policies and encourage de-escalation by promoting professional behavior.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
17 Feb. 2025
-
Scientists think that the endogenous opioid system evolved, in part, to push animals toward behaviors that aided the species’ survival.—
Moises Velasquez-Manoff Robert Petkoff Emma Kehlbeck Zak Mouton,
New York Times,
16 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
The geographic break corresponded with a pivot in the photographer’s work.—
Naomi Fry,
The New Yorker,
22 Feb. 2025
-
San Marcos led 25-23 at the end of the first quarter, but Cathedral Catholic outscored the Knights 20-15 in the second quarter and led 43-40 at the break.—
John Maffei,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Reprieve.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reprieve. Accessed 2 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share