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 of relentless

• 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

This is Prophet Johnson, the relentless senior for Sacramento State who plays to the point of exhaustion. —Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 30 Jan. 2026

The kind that builds quietly across years of domestic violence calls, child abuse investigations, fatal accidents, overdoses, mass casualty events, and relentless exposure to human suffering. —Jennifer Jay Palumbo, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026

Below, our favorite romantic restaurants that check all the boxes—where the person across the table, the first spark, or the dishes and drinks themselves are reason enough to linger, to celebrate being alive, and to let the city’s relentless buzz fade just for a little while. —Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Jan. 2026

Kennedy Smith’s relentless scoring run in the third quarter sparked USC to victory after the Trojans lost six of their last seven entering Thursday. —Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026

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