unrelenting

adjective

un·​re·​lent·​ing ˌən-ri-ˈlen-tiŋ 

1

: not softening or yielding in determination : hard, stern

an unrelenting leader

2

: not letting up or weakening in vigor or pace : constant

the unrelenting struggle

unrelentingly

ˌən-ri-ˈlen-tiŋ-lē 

adverb

Synonyms

• adamant
• adamantine
• bullheaded
• dogged
• hard
• hard-nosed
• hardened
• hardheaded
• headstrong
• immovable
• implacable
• inconvincible
• inflexible
• intransigent
• mulish
• obdurate
• obstinate
• opinionated
• ossified
• pat
• pertinacious
• perverse
• pigheaded
• self-opinionated
• self-willed
• stiff-necked
• stubborn
• unbending
• uncompromising
• unyielding
• willful
• wilful

Examples of unrelenting in a Sentence

that professor tends to be unrelenting about deadlines

unrelenting in the pursuit of equality for all races

Recent Examples on the Web

Karina was, like her mother, an unrelenting optimist. —Sarah Stillman, New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2025

This is what Denver hasn’t been far too often this season: steely, unrelenting, resilient, passionate. —Tony Jones, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2025

For civilians, the unrelenting misery of the last 18 months has just got a lot worse – especially as no aid has entered Gaza for six weeks. —Tim Lister and Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 12 Apr. 2025

Everyone has been finding their groove, figuring out how this show runs… talk to me about getting thrown back in amid the unrelenting chaos of those mass casualty episodes. —Ryan Schwartz, TVLine, 11 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1590, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for unrelenting

• circumventing
• complementing
• complimenting
• implementing
• orienting
• reinventing
• representing
• assenting
• augmenting
• cementing
• consenting
• contenting

Kids Definition

unrelenting

adjective

un·​re·​lent·​ing ˌən-ri-ˈlent-iŋ 

1

: not softening or giving in easily : hard, stern

2

: not letting up or weakening in energy or pace

our unrelenting struggle for freedom

unrelentingly adverb