recesses 1 of 2

noun

plural of recess
1
as in alcoves
a hollowed-out space in a wall the curator placed the large vase in one of the recesses of the gallery wall

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2
as in vacations
a period during which the usual routine of school or work is suspended the couple goes to Florida every January for a month-long recess from the rigors of winter

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3
as in pauses
a momentary halt in an activity the judge called for a brief recess so that the witness could regain her composure

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in holes
a sunken area forming a separate space decided to camp in a sandy recess where the beach met the forest

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

recesses

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of recess
as in suspends
to bring to a formal close for a period of time the judge recessed the court for lunch

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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 recesses
Noun
This allegedly caused the cancellation of school recesses, and also ruining weddings and funerals. — Finnegan Belleau, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2026 Mayor Kevin McCarty’s spokesperson Geneva Jacob did not answer a question about why the recess went on longer than several other recent recesses, citing closed session restrictions. — Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 10 Aug. 2026 The resolution will now head to the Senate, but with August recesses for both chambers rapidly approaching, the clock is ticking. — Drew Pittock, USA Today, 23 July 2026 In a Fox News op-ed published Monday, the hard-line conservative asserted that the upper chamber takes too many recesses and has too short of a workweek. — Matthew Choi, Washington Post, 13 July 2026 To accommodate setbacks and height restrictions, the house rises four stories, with bays and recesses that break up the massing so the house doesn’t loom over its neighbors. — Fred Albert, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026 When the site is level, fill the recesses with sand, and tamp again. — Caitlin Sole, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 July 2026 How space exploration helped ocean exploration By the middle of the 20th century, Swiss inventor and explorer Auguste Piccard proved that the technology used to explore space could also be used to access the deepest ocean recesses. — Bill Gourgey, Popular Science, 2 July 2026 The horror is set up but the execution takes place in the dark recesses of the audience’s minds. — Literary Hub, 22 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for recesses
  1. alcoves
  2. vacations
  3. pauses
  4. holes
  5. suspends
  6. corners
  7. holidays
  8. lulls
Noun
  • Incorporating antique finds, greenery, and utilizing your home’s quirky features, like alcoves and nooks, are just a few of the ways your home is set apart from the rest on the block.
    — Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Inside, antique art hangs on walls, tamgroute (local pottery) lines small alcoves, board games are stacked inside cupboards, and coffee table books have plenty to dive into.
    — Katie Silcox, Vogue, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of alcoves
Noun
  • More flexibility, more savings Christina DeSomma is another parent who doesn't let the school calendar limit her family's vacations, and the financial benefits alone are worthwhile.
    — Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The women received jewelry totaling more than $1,000, designer purses, guns, shoes, flowers, a laptop and cellphone, as well as vacations, tickets to performances, and one-on-one dinners.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of vacations
Noun
  • In response, many cities have introduced data center moratoriums, or temporary pauses on construction, until certain promises have been made.
    — Greta Reich, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
  • While safety experts say the companies’ new controls and pauses are a welcome change, some say there’s still more needed.
    — Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of pauses
Noun
  • McIlroy surged into the top-10 on Saturday with a 7-under 63, powered by nine birdies, including three in his final four holes.
    — Gabby Herzig, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2026
  • The golf course would be transformed from its original layout of three courses with 36 holes to a single 18-hole championship course, per the outlet.
    — Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of holes
Verb
  • So the trade might also turn out to be a cautionary preemptive move if the NFL determines Nacua violated the league’s personal-conduct policy and suspends him.
    — Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
  • OneWeave suspends thousands of yarns around a central core and weaves them into seamless forms, combining fabric formation with portions of garment assembly.
    — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of suspends
Noun
  • Others brought up the administration’s decision to scrap beef tariffs unpopular with corners of the party.
    — Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Options call for either including or excluding monuments located at each of the park’s four corners.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of corners
Noun
  • Parking at Ventura Harbor is free Monday through Thursday, and $10 for a full-day pass Friday through Sunday and on major holidays.
    — Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Bernstein noted that the third quarter tends to be the smallest for luxury in China, as spending tends to be concentrated around key holidays or shopping events.
    — Denni Hu, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of holidays
Noun
  • Organized by Hospitality Indiana (formerly the Indiana Restaurant & Lodging Association), the two-week promotion runs twice a year to boost business at local restaurants that typically experience lulls during those periods.
    — Cheryl V. Jackson, IndyStar, 28 Aug. 2026
  • At their worst, defensive secondary lapses and occasional offensive lulls kept opponents in games longer than necessary.
    — David Troy OutKick, FOXNews.com, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of lulls

Browse Nearby Words

recessed
recesses
recessing
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Cite this Entry

“Recesses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/recesses. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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