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

Yet, at the same time, relentless convenience (or being sold the idea of relentless convenience) warps the brain in ways that make nostalgic cravings somewhat inevitable. —Hanif Abdurraqib, New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2026

Michaels is a comedy producer with a relentless work ethic, a keen eye for talent, and an undiminished faith in what other — increasingly much younger — people find funny. —David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 17 Apr. 2026

News cycles this year have been a relentless parade of hard knocks, and April has been no exception. —Elizabeth Shackelford, Chicago Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026

And the market’s relentless push higher is in part a feature, not a bug, of how the US stock market has moved in the past year. —John Towfighi, CNN Money, 17 Apr. 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