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

The relentless rain has led to dozens of water rescues in the region and forecasters are warning of more rainfall that could be catastrophic. — Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 15 July 2026

Between a home with three young children and a pediatric clinic crowded with restless kids, the noise at times felt relentless. — Dana Suskind, Time, 14 July 2026

The move puts a one-year suspension on construction of large-scale facilities in the state and is the first of its kind in the US, which is seeing a rapid AI infrastructure buildout to meet relentless demand for compute. — J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 14 July 2026

Bellingham is everywhere, relentless and inevitable, all at once. — Thom Harris, New York Times, 13 July 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