relentless

adjective

re·​lent·​less ri-ˈlent-ləs How to pronounce relentless (audio)
: showing or promising no abatement of severity, intensity, strength, or pace : unrelenting
relentless pressure
a relentless campaign
relentlessly adverb
relentlessness noun

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
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.
The only sober attendees are a father (Sergi López) and his young son (Bruno Núñez) who are hoping to find the boy’s sister, a bohemian swept up in the relentless rhythm of this road-tripping bacchanalia. Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2025 He’s been key as a relentless point-of-attack defender, from James Harden in Round 1 to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in Round 2. Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 16 May 2025 There remain few stronger recent-history illustrations of that threat than the case of Anna Politkovskaya, a prominent Russian journalist noted for her relentless exposure of government corruption and harmful policies, particularly around the Second Chechen War. Dennis Harvey, Variety, 16 May 2025 Every athlete knows the importance of quick recovery, especially when battling the hot sun, sprawling courses, and relentless challenges. Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for relentless

Word History

First Known Use

1592, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of relentless was in 1592

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Cite this Entry

“Relentless.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/relentless. Accessed 21 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

relentless

adjective
re·​lent·​less ri-ˈlent-ləs How to pronounce relentless (audio)
: not lessening in severity, intensity, strength, or pace : unrelenting
relentless criticism
relentlessly adverb
relentlessness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on relentless

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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