as in cousin
a person connected with another by blood or marriage
it's always fun to see all your relatives at a big family gathering
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in comparative
being such only when compared to something else
after being crammed into a one-bedroom apartment, they lived in relative comfort in a two-bedroom house
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in relevant
having to do with the matter at hand
I don't need the whole story, just the details that are relative to the case
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of relative
ABC News,
24 June 2026
The Al-Khayyat family prospered under the previous regime, and some relatives were sanctioned for supporting the government and profiting from the war.
—
Mohammed Sergie,
semafor.com,
24 June 2026
Skyler Trepel,
PEOPLE,
22 June 2026
Boozer’s greatest flaw as a prospect is his relative lack of athleticism, in comparison to the rest of the top four and to much of the ensuing lottery.
—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
22 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for relative
Noun
In recent days, relatives’ groups have staged protests while Mexico serves as a co-host of the FIFA World Cup.
—
ABC News,
24 June 2026
The Al-Khayyat family prospered under the previous regime, and some relatives were sanctioned for supporting the government and profiting from the war.
—
Mohammed Sergie,
semafor.com,
24 June 2026
Adjective
Viserys led during a time of relative peace and prosperity for the Targaryens.
—
Skyler Trepel,
PEOPLE,
22 June 2026
Boozer’s greatest flaw as a prospect is his relative lack of athleticism, in comparison to the rest of the top four and to much of the ensuing lottery.
—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
22 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for relative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for relative
Noun
-
Lazarow's argument is that the camel is not the poor cousin of the unicorn.
-
This Hamptons home employs its heftier cousin, the Conico kettle.
Adjective
-
Using a non-comparative, cradle-to-gate method that excluded downstream applications and packaging, the study tracked materials from extraction or waste collection to the final textile-ready product, whether PET chips, staple fiber or yarns.
-
The study grew out of a broader question about prosocial behavior—why some species help others and some don’t, says comparative ethologist and study co-author Melitta Csepregi, who studies animal behavior at ELTE Eötvös Loránd University in Hungary.
Adjective
-
At 79, Spielberg remains as relevant as ever, recently returning to theaters with the sci-fi thriller Disclosure Day, starring Emily Blunt and Colin Firth.
-
Trump could revoke relevant executive orders, direct the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control to issue general licenses and waive some congressional sanctions laws.
Noun
-
The latest war of words marks a dramatic downturn in relations between the two right-wing leaders.
-
Diplomatic relations between the countries are almost always strong.
Adjective
-
While RVing can save money on food, the total cost can be comparable to other road trips.
-
Developed in partnership with the University of Bremen, the wheels were originally heavier and narrower than comparable conventional pneumatic wheels.
Adjective
-
Erie Mayor Andrew Moore said the executive sessions followed all applicable laws and that nothing improper had been brought to the town's attention.
-
Cohen said Humble Robotics is working to make cabless vehicles applicable to public roads, particularly those surrounding the busy ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.
Adjective
-
The Chiefs have long been the prototypical contender, the Steelers the paragon of the almost contenders … and the Jets, Browns and Raiders are usually in the third bucket.
-
That also means its almost time for clocks to fall back.
Cite this Entry
“Relative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/relative. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
