relent

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verb

Definition of RELENT

1

to cease resistance (as to another's arguments, demands, or control) <the supervisor finally relented in the face of the petition, and allowed employees to take longer lunch breaks>

Synonyms blink, bow, budge, capitulate, concede, give in, knuckle under, quit, relent, submit, succumb, surrender

Related Words acquiesce; defer

Near Antonyms contend, fight, hold off; battle, breast, combat, confront, counter, defy, face, meet, object, oppose, repel; thwart, withstand

Antonyms resist

2

to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually <the fury of the storm relented, and the next day the sun finally broke through the clouds>

Synonyms abate, decline, de-escalate, die (away or down or out), diminish, drain (away), drop (off), dwindle, ease, ebb, fall, fall away, lessen, let up, lower, moderate, pall, phase down, ratchet (down) also rachet (down), recede, relent, remit, shrink, subside, taper, taper off, wane

Related Words compress, condense, constrict, contract; evaporate, fade (away), fritter (away), give out, melt (away), peter (out), tail (off), vanish; slacken, slow (down); alleviate, relax; flag, sink, weaken; cave (in), collapse, deflate

Near Antonyms appear, emerge, show up; blow up, distend, elongate, lengthen

Antonyms accumulate, balloon, build, burgeon (also bourgeon), enlarge, escalate, expand, grow, increase, intensify, mount, mushroom, pick up, rise, snowball, soar, swell, wax