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Synonyms

relief valve

American  

noun

  1. a device that, when actuated by static pressure above a predetermined level, opens in proportion to the excess above this level and reduces the pressure to it.


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

The recent correction has served as a necessary relief valve, reducing the risk of a blow-off top while allowing leadership to broaden.

From MarketWatch Jul. 22, 2026

In recent weeks, clumps of ships, some of them the world’s largest tankers laden with oil and liquefied natural gas, have traversed the dangerous crossing, creating a tiny relief valve for the global economy.

From The Wall Street Journal May 30, 2026

Economists, immigration attorneys and scholars say that without another relief valve, it is not just the immigrants who will suffer but people in a wide swath of the economy.

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 25, 2025

"Combined storm overflows are a pressure relief valve for the wastewater network," NI Water's Director of Engineering and Sustainability Gary Curran explained.

From BBC Apr. 23, 2024

I became aware of the soft, continuous popping sounds of the air-bubbles escaping from the relief valve of the head-piece.

From Astounding Stories of Super-Science, May, 1930 by Bates, Harry

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