relentless

adjective

re·​lent·​less ri-ˈlent-ləs 

: showing or promising no abatement of severity, intensity, strength, or pace : unrelenting

relentless pressure

a relentless campaign

relentlessly adverb

relentlessness noun

Synonyms

• grim
• determined
• persistent
• unrelenting
• ruthless

Examples of relentless in a Sentence

Her relentless optimism held the team together.

The hunter was relentless in pursuit of his prey.

a relentless opponent of deregulation

Recent Examples on the Web

My dear friend Charlie Kirk was our country's relentless and courageous crusader for free speech. —Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025

Focus on being useful, not relentless. —Nitin Gupta, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025

His relentless prepackaged positivity — even in the wake of depressing game day results — turned him into something of a punch line. —Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025

Technology has democratized opportunity, yes, but that also translates into a relentless pressure to self-optimize. —Dave Smith, Fortune, 11 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1592, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

relentless

adjective

re·​lent·​less ri-ˈlent-ləs 

: not lessening in severity, intensity, strength, or pace : unrelenting

relentless criticism

relentlessly adverb

relentlessness noun