Destresses

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To relieve mental or physical stress and anxiety, to diminish emotional or psychological pressure, and to foster an overall sense of peace and relaxation
2. To ease the burden of stress or tension, to lighten emotional or physical discomfort, and to promote a tranquil state of mind and body
3. To alleviate feelings of worry or strain and promote calmness in both mind and body

Etymology: "Destresses" is the third-person singular present form of "destress," a verb built from the prefix de- and the noun "stress." The prefix de- here carries its familiar sense of removing or reversing, so to destress something is to take the stress out of it. The verb is a straightforward formation on an existing English word, and its meaning follows directly from the parts: "stress" in the sense of mental or physical strain, with "de-" meaning to take that strain away.

Synonyms: relaxes, calms, soothes, unwinds, alleviates

Antonyms: stresses, burdens, tensions, overwhelms, aggravates