relent

verb

re·​lent ri-ˈlent 

relented; relenting; relents

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

• blink
• bow
• budge
• capitulate
• concede
• give in
• knuckle under
• quit
• submit
• succumb
• surrender
• yield

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

In a statement responding to critics Thursday, Porter did not relent. —David Lightman, Sacramento Bee, 7 Mar. 2024

The woman claims the producer eventually relented once his driver arrived at her apartment after allegedly taking an unexpectedly long route. —Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Feb. 2024

The snow had relented, and Boyko easily stalked the groups with the surveillance drone. —Luke Mogelson, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024

Dallas never relented and clawed within two, but the Warriors nonetheless narrowly escaped. —Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 3 Apr. 2024

But in recent weeks, the M.T.A. slightly relented and said the race could use the upper level if the Road Runners preferred it to the lower level. —Dana Rubinstein, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2024

After Kakao’s successful tender offer upped its stake to 35%, HYBE relented and sold 44% of its SM Entertainment shares to Kakao later that month. —Glenn Peoples, Billboard, 5 Mar. 2024

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

Kids Definition

relent

verb

re·​lent ri-ˈlent 

1

: to become less severe, harsh, or strict

2

: slacken sense 1