RECESSES Synonyms: 186 Similar and Opposite Words

recesses 1 of 2

noun

plural of recess

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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Relevance

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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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

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

Students at Independence Elementary School in Clarkston, Michigan, are spending their recesses and free time making bracelets, stickers and other items for a cause that is deeply personal to their school community. — Hannah McIlree, CBS News, 6 Oct. 2026 Herzog’s adventurous spirit has led him to explore the furthest reaches of the globe, but also inward to map the strangest recesses of the heart. — Joshua Rothkopf, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2026 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

Verb

The House recesses even earlier, heading out of town at the end of this week. — Tanaya MacHeel,garrett Downs, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for recesses

Noun

There were no bedrooms, just sleeping alcoves set into the walls.

— Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 30 Sep. 2026
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

Definition of alcoves

Noun

Nicks said she's specifically noticed steep price increases over recent years in the grocery store produce aisle and when looking at airline flights for vacations.

— Alex Harring, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2026
On his Instagram, Hori posted pictures of beach vacations in Europe and the Caribbean.

— Monika Evstatieva, NPR, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of vacations

Noun

Chacarra was 4 under for his round after 11 holes, having started out in the halfway lead after completing a second-round 67 early Saturday.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026
Using wooden planks and sandbags, Long Beach City work crews earlier this month had patched up holes in the boardwalk’s wall created by the hurricanes, but the reinforcements did not hold.

— Alicia Victoria Lozano, NBC news, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of holes

Verb

The executive order also suspends weight limits on commercial vehicles in an effort to reduce costs needed to transport goods.

— Dan Raby, CBS News, 28 Sep. 2026
The two countries agreed to extend by two months to January a trade truce that keeps tariffs lower, suspends restrictive controls on rare earth exports and holds off higher port fees on ships.

— Anniek Bao, CNBC, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of suspends

Noun

There was very little original local production, and people were finding their favourite TV shows through obscure corners of the web.

— Annika Pham, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
There’s a magic to young adults aged 18 to 22 coming together from different corners of the world, bringing their diverse tastes to a campus.

— Elise Brisco, VIBE.com, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of corners

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recessed

recesses

recessing

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“Recesses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/recesses. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of recesses

noun

verb

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