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

Seeing him in such unrelenting despair, Mokdad's cousin came to him with an idea. —Ari Shapiro, NPR, 16 Apr. 2024

Drake, considered in some eyes the Roman Reigns of the rap game because of his sheer commercial dominance and unrelenting success over an extended period, is backed into a corner. —Carl Lamarre, Billboard, 15 Apr. 2024

Organized loosely chronologically, the installation reveals not only Kollwitz’s technical and graphic excellence, but also her unrelenting compassion and humanity. —Grace Edquist, Vogue, 11 Apr. 2024

Israel’s unrelenting siege on Gaza following Hamas’ October 7 attack s on Israel has killed more than 33,000 people, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. —Harmeet Kaur, CNN, 10 Apr. 2024

Washington should seek to weaken the sources of CCP imperialism and hold out for a Chinese leader who behaves less like an unrelenting foe. —Matt Pottinger, Foreign Affairs, 10 Apr. 2024

The strikes also show Russia is unrelenting in the brutal pursuit of its war aims, readying further ground offensives but also able to rely on a seemingly robust supply of missiles and explosive drones to strike targets far from the front lines. —Serhii Korolchuk, Washington Post, 4 Apr. 2024

Somewhat unsurprisingly, given an unrelenting remit of climate anxieties and global unrest, this tendency has left no genre untouched. —Ben Croll, Variety, 5 Apr. 2024

The group’s unrelenting coordinated attacks began on February 29 against police stations, prisons, key government infrastructure and other facilities with the goal of deposing the current government. —Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1590, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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