relent

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb relent differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of relent are capitulate, defer, submit, succumb, and yield. While all these words mean "to give way to someone or something that one can no longer resist," relent implies a yielding through pity or mercy by one who holds the upper hand.

finally relented and let the children stay up late

When is capitulate a more appropriate choice than relent?

The meanings of capitulate and relent largely overlap; however, 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

Where would defer be a reasonable alternative to relent?

Although the words defer and relent have much in common, 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

When can submit be used instead of relent?

In some situations, the words submit and relent are roughly equivalent. However, 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

When is it sensible to use succumb instead of relent?

While in some cases nearly identical to relent, 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

When would yield be a good substitute for relent?

While the synonyms yield and relent are close in meaning, yield may apply to any sort or degree of giving way before force, argument, persuasion, or entreaty.

yields too easily in any argument

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of relent The video concludes with the owners relenting, opening the door and allowing the cats to hide while packing continues. Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 May 2025 Without relenting, Miss Lucy poured everything into her school. Karida L. Brown, Essence, 21 May 2025 Thibodeau relented in Game 3, putting fellow center Mitchell Robinson into the starting lineup in place of Hart (with Hart's blessing). Bryan Toporek, Forbes.com, 9 June 2025 But then Trump said Nippon and US Steel’s executives continued to push the issue, and the deal became good enough for Trump to ultimately relent. David Goldman, CNN Money, 30 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for relent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for relent
Verb
  • Most of the resulting plants succumbed to rust; the few that made it were crossed with one another to produce the next generation.
    Elizabeth Kolbert, New Yorker, 23 June 2025
  • Don’t succumb to the urge to overfertilize, which leads to other problems. 4.
    Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 June 2025
Verb
  • Once the killing subsided, a desperate search began to find a way to prevent such a catastrophe from happening again.
    Oona A. Hathaway, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2025
  • The program’s vehicles were rentals and will be returned to vendors as the program subsides.
    Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 24 June 2025
Verb
  • But there’s another reason for it: the handwritten paragraph also begins a paper trail, attesting to voice and style, that a teaching assistant can consult if a suspicious paper is submitted.
    Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 30 June 2025
  • Or a therapist who submits weekly reports for a patient, only to later discover that the patient had been in custody for months.
    William Jones, USA Today, 30 June 2025
Verb
  • But all this trouble didn’t diminish his affection.
    Brett Berk, Robb Report, 26 June 2025
  • And the chaos does gradually diminish, like a pot of stock boiled down to a sauce.
    Tom Gliatto, People.com, 26 June 2025
Verb
  • Luckily for Boca, Auckland has conceded an average of eight goals per game in this tournament.
    Joseph O'Sullivan, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
  • At the time, the Trump Administration was attempting to negotiate a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia, with terms that heavily favored Putin: Ukraine would concede all the territory that Russia had occupied and give up its effort to join NATO.
    Joshua Yaffa, New Yorker, 23 June 2025
Verb
  • The three main causes of hydroplaning are: Vehicle speed - When a vehicle's speed increases, the tire-traction grip and ability to control the vehicle decreases.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 25 June 2025
  • The top three contributors to hydroplaning are: Vehicle speed - When a vehicle's speed increases, the tire-traction grip and ability to control the vehicle decreases.
    KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT, Kansas City Star, 25 June 2025
Verb
  • Left-hander José Castillo surrendered RBI singles to Eli White and Nick Allen.
    Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 25 June 2025
  • Dominic Canzone’s sixth-inning home run was the seventh run Ober gave up, marking the second time in three starts that Ober has surrendered seven runs.
    Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 24 June 2025
Verb
  • It’s been days, and that eyeliner hasn’t budged an inch.
    Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 27 June 2025
  • But fiscal hawks aren’t willing to budge an inch, particularly after the Freedom Caucus celebrated victory in securing over $1.5 trillion in spending cuts and moving up the effective deadlines for Medicaid and Inflation Reduction Act energy credits.
    Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 27 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Relent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/relent. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.

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