RESTING Synonyms: 116 Similar and Opposite Words

resting 1 of 3

adjective

ˈre-stiŋ

Definition of resting

as in sleeping

being in a state of suspended consciousness the resting cat was curled up in my favorite chair

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

resting

2 of 3

noun

as in napping

a natural periodic loss of consciousness during which the body restores itself the hyena is ready to scavenge again after its brief resting

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

resting

3 of 3

verb

present participle of rest

as in basking

to refrain from labor or exertion a beach resort that caters to gung ho exercisers and athletes as well as vacationers who just want to rest

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in dozing

to be in a state of sleep the patient is currently resting, but as soon as he awakes, I'll tell him you called

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in basing

to find a basis you're resting your argument on a faulty premise

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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 resting

Adjective

That’s because when the body experiences physical stress, including losing weight quickly, more hairs can shift into a resting phase and fall out a few months later — typically two to three months after the event, Rossi explains. — Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 17 Feb. 2026 This is a condition where, due to stress or hormonal changes, the body puts the hair follicles into a resting phase. — Essence, 19 Dec. 2025 Taking minoxidil orally can support the hair follicle cycle and trigger anagen (the resting phase) prematurely. — Jessie Quinn, Flow Space, 23 Sep. 2025 During the resting phase, hair stops growing and will shed, or fall out. — Jessica Swirble, Verywell Health, 10 July 2025 Green Bay could finish as high as sixth in the NFC if the resting Rams lose to the 49ers, potentially setting up a first-round matchup against the division-rival Lions. — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 6 Jan. 2024 In this condition, a lot of the hairs all over the scalp going into the resting phase all at once–this is seen clinically as an abrupt significant increase in shedding. — Tatjana Freund, ELLE, 4 Aug. 2023 More muscle means more metabolically demanding muscle cells, which translates into a higher resting metabolism. — Emily Willingham, Scientific American, 14 June 2023

Noun

Their efforts at Greenwood Cemetery, a predominately Black cemetery that serves as the final resting place for more than 800 Black veterans, marked the organization’s 12th year of hosting a community outreach day during its annual convention. — Caroline Neal, Louisville Courier Journal, 28 Aug. 2026 The main sala, an open pavilion or a shaded resting place, provides unobstructed coastline views. — Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 26 Aug. 2026 Instead, your body diverts its limited calories elsewhere, pushing hair follicles into a two- to four-month resting phase before hair eventually sheds. — Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 25 Aug. 2026 According to Briggs, work has become synonymous with busyness and resting is seen as a sign of weakness or something taken only as an extreme reward. — John Hall, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026 The controversy over Jackie’s final resting place is striking because in life, the raptor was a unifying force. — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026 Lake Mead is also the final resting place of a surplus WWII B-29 that crashed in 1948. — Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026 Meghan Markle sparked controversy shortly after her UK visit in July 2026, allegedly posting a photo of Prince Harry and their kids carrying flowers to the late Princess Diana’s final resting place. — Allison Degrushe, StyleCaster, 10 Aug. 2026 Trusting Kanan, Raq visits Stefano in one part of New York while Kanan visits his late Uncle Marvin’s last resting place in another. — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 7 Aug. 2026

Verb

The increasing chances of being taken, whether one is in a church, mosque, school, on a trip to the capital Abuja or resting at home, is a grim reality that should not be the case given Tinubu’s firm campaign pledges. — Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 31 Aug. 2026 And then there were polar bears again, this time resting quietly in the hills. — Sarah Kingdom, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026 The Dolphins, resting their talent-needy starting defense, fought with backups that will provide substandard depth this season. — Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026 Instead, his navy jersey, meticulously embroidered with a white number 16 hangs unfettered with his unworn Bears helmet resting on a shelf above. — Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026 Carroll Shelby must be resting happily in his grave, knowing his creation just became the most expensive American ever to be sold at an auction. — New Atlas, 28 Aug. 2026 The sanitizer buckets where the wiping cloths should be resting between uses? — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026 Clancy’s mom had her arm resting on the back of the seat at times. — Sumiko Corley, NBC news, 27 Aug. 2026 The boy awoke at a family cottage in northern Ontario in 2024 with a bat resting across his nose and mouth. — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for resting

Adjective

An autopsy showed that the infant died from asphyxiation secondary to a co-sleeping/overlay event with an unsafe sleeping environment.

— Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 26 Feb. 2026

Definition of sleeping

Noun

By nine-thirty, people were stretched out on the soft grass, napping, reading, and revelling in the previous night’s victory.

— Eric Klinenberg, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026
When temperatures eventually dip, Shah likes keeping an extra blanket in the car—a place where many babies do their best napping, much to their parents’ delight.

— Vy Yang, Architectural Digest, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of napping

Verb

After a summer spent outdoors basking in the sun, houseplants can struggle to adjust to life indoors.

— Rachel Gillett, Martha Stewart, 25 Aug. 2026
The star took a break from basking in the sun and frolicking through the waves, lining up on the white sand in front of the ocean with her BFFs for a silly dance party.

— Lara Walsh, InStyle, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of basking

Verb

The immediate follow through confirmed the breakout, adding conviction that bitcoin is in long-term basing phase and June-July marked the bottom.

— Lee Ying Shan,Ananya Chetia, CNBC, 25 Aug. 2026
Overall, Red Sea basing to date has focused more on crisis response in East Africa, countering and competing against Russia and China.

— Paul Tilsley, FOXNews.com, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of basing

Noun

Even during the rut, Infalt shoots most of his mature bucks in the thick stuff near where deer sleep.

— Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 27 Aug. 2026
Afternoon or evening exercise can improve strength, reduce stress, and lower injury risk, but intense sessions could disrupt sleep.

— Health Editorial Team, HEALTH, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of sleep

Verb

At a little under two feet, the can’t-miss fixture spreads a warm light that creates a welcoming atmosphere for reading, relaxing, or sharing drinks without harsh overhead lighting or a spindly, corner-lurking, fluorescent presence.

— Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 26 Aug. 2026
Julie Huntsinger has spent two decades as the guardian of the Telluride Film Festival — a jewel box of off-duty movie stars and power players relaxing in the mountains and a consequential launchpad for the fall awards season.

— Clayton Davis, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of relaxing

Cite this Entry

Style

“Resting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/resting. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of resting

adjective

noun

verb

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