ease 1 of 2

verb

Definition of easenext
1
as in to facilitate
to free from obstruction or difficulty measures intended to ease the flow of traffic during rush hour

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Relevance

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2
as in to loosen
to make less taut the rock climber eased the rope a little so that his fellow climber had room to maneuver

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3
as in to alleviate
to make more bearable or less severe grandmother's firm belief that there are few ailments that chicken soup won't ease

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4
as in to reduce
to make smaller in amount, volume, or extent the chairman of the Federal Reserve has promised to ease interest rates

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5
as in to decrease
to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually new investments in the region have eased since the rise in interest rates

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

ease

2 of 2

noun

ˈēz How to pronounce ease (audio)
1
as in relief
reduction of or freedom from pain the sunburn medication brought me instant ease

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2
as in abandon
carefree freedom from constraint a gymnast who can handle even the most demanding moves on the parallel bars with total ease

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3
as in rest
freedom from activity or labor the dream of every lottery player is a life of fabulous luxury and everlasting ease

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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 ease
Verb
In our family, my unmarried adult daughter — who sometimes works nights — voluntarily gave my husband the ability to track her phone, just to ease our minds. — Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 14 Aug. 2026 Several rail services remained suspended, although some trains between Narita and Tokyo resumed, helping ease congestion around the international travel hub. — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 14 Aug. 2026
Noun
When comparing options, consider features, pricing, ease of use and security, including bank-level encryption and multi-factor authentication. — Javier Simon, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2026 This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity and ease of reading. — Simon Vozick-Levinson, Rolling Stone, 11 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ease
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ease
  1. facilitate
  2. loosen
  3. alleviate
  4. reduce
  5. decrease
  6. relief
  7. abandon
  8. rest
Verb
  • The Mexican government has facilitated legal assistance to Salgado’s family and acted as a crucial intermediary.
    — Stephania Taladrid, New Yorker, 13 Aug. 2026
  • But the judge also noted Krneta’s dual role in facilitating the corruption of Tobolski, both paying bribes and collecting extortion payments from other contractors on the then-mayor’s behalf.
    — Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of facilitate
Verb
  • Made from wood chips and sawdust bound with resin, particleboard can swell when exposed to moisture, while screws and bolts can loosen over time.
    — Rachel Silva, Martha Stewart, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Even before this summer’s heat, the EU had begun loosening a number of its emissions targets and delaying the phaseout of gas and diesel vehicles, in an apparent effort to blunt the far right’s use of green policies as a campaign issue.
    — Ned Temko, Christian Science Monitor, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of loosen
Verb
  • Against the odds, Afghan women have built a tenacious resistance movement, inside and outside the country, that is working to alleviate conditions and provide opportunities, however limited, for women and girls.
    — Rina Amiri, Foreign Affairs, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Morgan Stanley’s Joseph Moore said the arrangement alleviates concerns about circular financing because third-party investors would provide most of the capital, while Nvidia would participate only to a limited extent.
    — Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of alleviate
Verb
  • The South in particular faces higher rates of obesity and other health challenges that have further reduced the pool of eligible recruits and contributed to higher injury rates during basic training, according to service data.
    — Steven Beynon, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
  • The historic supply shock has also been softened by other factors, including alternative export routes out of the Gulf, China reducing its oil imports, the United States increasing production and drawdowns from global oil stockpiles.
    — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of reduce
Verb
  • As would be expected, oil demand was forced to decrease, to match available supply.
    — Jason Bordoff, Foreign Affairs, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Only 15% believed the statements would decrease the patients’ likelihood of seeking treatment—even though that's what tended to happen in the researchers' simulations.
    — Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of decrease
Noun
  • Aetrex is a technology company that uses data and learnings to design and create footwear that is anatomically correct to support your body from the ground up, offering superior arch support and pain relief.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Araghchi was appointed Foreign Minister in 2024 by President Masoud Pezeshkian, with a mandate to secure sanctions relief.
    — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of relief
Noun
  • Ravers can dance with abandon while surrounded by historic aircraft that are set against the San Jacinto Mountains and desert sky.
    — Lisa Kocay, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Lipowitz’s unfortunate abandon in the stage 16 time trial came 24 hours after Evenepoel had outsprinted Pogačar to win at Plateau de Solaison.
    — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 27 July 2026
Definition of abandon
Noun
  • The Virgo Moon moves through your private 12th house, making rest, reflection, and emotional processing more important than constant availability.
    — Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • There’s the fact that the top 1 percent of Americans now make over twenty-six times more money than all the rest of the country.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of rest

Phrases Containing ease

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Cite this Entry

“Ease.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ease. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of ease for Spanish Speakers

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