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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in suspends
to bring to a formal close for a period of time
the judge recessed the court for lunch
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of recesses
Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
Here was the postwar American housewife—neatly dressed, pretty, poised, active—stepping unwittingly into a scene of utter depravity and sadism that reflected back at this wholesome young mother the darkest recesses of the human mind.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Sep. 2025
August is typically the slowest month of the year for restaurants in Washington, as Congress recesses and families head out on last-minute vacations.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 19 Aug. 2025
Attorney Lauren Cerri of Cerri, Boskovich & Allard, representing the plaintiff, condemned school administration for ignoring prior complaints made by yard duty supervisors years earlier that Wilson was spending time in his classroom alone with female students during lunch recesses.
—Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 13 Aug. 2025
In the recesses of the internet, where reality can feel increasingly fuzzy, one young Norwegian man lacking offline mobility built a world of his own.
—Matthew Jacobs, HollywoodReporter, 10 Aug. 2025
And yet the meeting itself is lost to the deepest recesses of Pledger’s mind.
—Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2025
The president earlier this week threatened to yank the July 4 recesses next week if the legislation is not on his desk by the Independence Day deadline.
—Alex Gangitano, The Hill, 27 June 2025
Noun
Like any good novelist, Lurie knows that surface details lead us inward, into the recesses of temperament.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
Here was the postwar American housewife—neatly dressed, pretty, poised, active—stepping unwittingly into a scene of utter depravity and sadism that reflected back at this wholesome young mother the darkest recesses of the human mind.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Sep. 2025
August is typically the slowest month of the year for restaurants in Washington, as Congress recesses and families head out on last-minute vacations.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 19 Aug. 2025
Attorney Lauren Cerri of Cerri, Boskovich & Allard, representing the plaintiff, condemned school administration for ignoring prior complaints made by yard duty supervisors years earlier that Wilson was spending time in his classroom alone with female students during lunch recesses.
—Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 13 Aug. 2025
In the recesses of the internet, where reality can feel increasingly fuzzy, one young Norwegian man lacking offline mobility built a world of his own.
—Matthew Jacobs, HollywoodReporter, 10 Aug. 2025
And yet the meeting itself is lost to the deepest recesses of Pledger’s mind.
—Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2025
The president earlier this week threatened to yank the July 4 recesses next week if the legislation is not on his desk by the Independence Day deadline.
—Alex Gangitano, The Hill, 27 June 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for recesses
Noun
-
Princess Diana and the Duchess of York once turned up at the club dressed as policewomen and many romantic relationships were sealed in the dark alcoves, although the tabloids rarely, if ever, found out.—
Samantha Conti,
Footwear News,
18 Oct. 2025
-
Now, designers like Hám Interiors are making clever use of compact spaces by fitting bedrooms with alcoves that are both practical and aesthetically pleasing.—
Chloe Frost-Smith,
Vogue,
24 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Since their breakup, Ali has posted on her Instagram about various vacations and fashion, while Anton has shared some behind-the-scenes memories from being on the show, which included one photo with Ali.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
22 Oct. 2025
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Tickets are $10 for non-adult guests, free for hotel guests and non-guest children under age 12, with proceeds benefiting Give Kids the World, a nonprofit resort providing vacations to ill children and their families.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Inspiration lives in the little pauses.—
Rolling Stone Culture Council,
Rolling Stone,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Councilmembers Louie Rocha, Wilson, and Freitas believed that any changes to pauses should apply consistently to all boards and commissions, not just the oversight commission.—
Hema Sivanandam,
Mercury News,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Once written, the script’s fantastic promise distracted its readers from the fatal holes in its plot.—
Elizabeth D. Samet,
Foreign Affairs,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Plus, the storage area has ventilation holes to keep items from becoming musty.—
Rachel Trujillo,
PEOPLE,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Walmart could see a significant decline in consumer spending if the government suspends Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits as a result of the ongoing shutdown.—
Hugh Cameron,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
-
To reduce the risk of heat illnesses, the military generally suspends nonessential outdoor activities on extremely hot days.—
Ames Alexander,
Miami Herald,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Two veteran data journalists are launching a new investigative publication to cover rising authoritarianism from the shadowy corners of the internet.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Traversing quaint New York street corners and rooftops, Vincent serenades his girl with playful bars about love, commitment and the important building blocks of a good relationship.—
Mackenzie Cummings-Grady,
Billboard,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The website has reportedly seen an uptick in activity within the Cuaçao region during family holidays – prompting investigators to theorize that Bradley could be visiting the site to feel closer to her family, or her captors are monitoring the case.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
26 Oct. 2025
-
There are 11 days recognized as federal holidays every year.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
26 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
That led to a couple of scoring lulls, especially in the first half.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
25 Oct. 2025
-
For instance, why did the offense experience so many extended lulls against opposing bullpens (even as, in another contradiction, its overall performance against bullpens was in line with 2024)?—
Will Sammon,
New York Times,
9 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Recesses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/recesses. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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