relent

verb

re·​lent ri-ˈlent How to pronounce relent (audio)
relented; relenting; relents
Synonyms of relentnext

intransitive verb

1
a
: to become less severe, harsh, or strict usually from reasons of humanity
b
: to cease resistance : give in
2
: let up, slacken

transitive verb

obsolete : soften, mollify

Synonyms

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 
Choose the Right Synonym for relent

yield, submit, capitulate, succumb, relent, defer mean to give way to someone or something that one can no longer resist.

yield may apply to any sort or degree of giving way before force, argument, persuasion, or entreaty.

yields too easily in any argument

submit suggests full surrendering after resistance or conflict to the will or control of another.

a repentant sinner vowing to submit to the will of God

capitulate stresses the fact of ending all resistance and may imply either a coming to terms (as with an adversary) or hopelessness in the face of an irresistible opposing force.

officials capitulated to the protesters' demands

succumb implies weakness and helplessness to the one that gives way or an overwhelming power to the opposing force.

a stage actor succumbing to the lure of Hollywood

relent implies a yielding through pity or mercy by one who holds the upper hand.

finally relented and let the children stay up late

defer implies a voluntary yielding or submitting out of respect or reverence for or deference and affection toward another.

I defer to your expertise in these matters

Examples of relent in a Sentence

Our application was initially refused, but the city relented in the end and the permit was issued. They had refused to pay and relented only after being threatened with a lawsuit. The winds would not relent.
Recent Examples on the Web Apple unsuccessfully resisted that portion of the ruling until the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal in January, forcing the company to relent. —Michael Liedtke, Lindsay Whitehurst, The Christian Science Monitor, 21 Mar. 2024 The poor sister finally relents and purchases a product kit, and the clock strikes midnight. —Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2024 See all Example Sentences for relent 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'relent.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, to melt, soften, from Anglo-French relenter, from re- + Latin lentare to bend, from lentus soft, pliant, slow — more at lithe

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of relent was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near relent

relend

relent

relentingly

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Relent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/relent. Accessed 3 May. 2024.

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Kids Definition

relent

verb
re·​lent ri-ˈlent How to pronounce relent (audio)
1
: to become less severe, harsh, or strict
2
: slacken sense 1

More from Merriam-Webster on relent

Nglish: Translation of relent for Spanish Speakers

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