Her political activism throws the apathy of others into sharp 'relief'. [=makes the apathy of others very noticeable]
His character provides a little 'comic relief' in what is otherwise a very serious and dramatic movie.
Just one day of sunshine would be a welcome 'relief' from the rainy weather we've been having lately.
(..) deep with those things. You are a very young boy, an impish young boy. But I can tell you, you are a youth, that you have fire in the blood. And it is kind of a relief... - Wayne, that they are speaking? - That? We are speaking of blood and fire, of as uniting the fire to the blood. (..)2007 Into the Wild