relative 1 of 2

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

relative

2 of 2

adjective

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
Noun
The victim, known to friends and relatives as JoJo, played music under the name DJ Checkpoint. Ellen Moynihan, New York Daily News, 2 Feb. 2025 As Pete recalls events that happened to him, to people around him or to relatives, the intimate reminiscences meet the macro, touching on the impact of residential schools, land claims by greedy companies and the disproportionate incarceration of First Nations individuals. Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 1 Feb. 2025
Adjective
There is also the relative novelty of being in this position again. George Caulkin, The Athletic, 5 Feb. 2025 Natalia’s seething, building jealousy is the driving force of tension in a mood piece that never slackens over 95 minutes, despite the relative lightness of its plotting. Guy Lodge, Variety, 4 Feb. 2025 See all Example Sentences for relative 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for relative
Noun
  • Tinos huddles close to its much more popular cousin, Mykonos, which lies a short, 20-minute ferry ride away.
    Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 1 Feb. 2025
  • Her cousin, Darius Robinson, played at Kenwood and is now at Oral Roberts.
    Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 31 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • According to Michael Tomasello, a comparative psychologist at Duke University, who was not involved in the new study, chimpanzees are also able to discern ignorance and modify their communication as a result.
    Jack Tamisiea, Scientific American, 3 Feb. 2025
  • Researchers believe those differences come down to the comparative ages of the structures.
    Mindy Weisberger, CNN, 31 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Its remarkable flexibility — allowing relationships between Sims of any gender since 2000, as well as support for a healthy modding community — has kept it socially relevant over time like few other video game series, even as its core appeal remains largely unchanged.
    Susan Stone, NPR, 1 Feb. 2025
  • The New York Times has reported that the relevant air-traffic-control tower may have been understaffed and that the helicopter might have been outside its flight path.
    Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 31 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Thailand expects to complete its inaugural high-speed rail network by 2030, establishing a direct link to China through Laos, a project long heralded by officials as pivotal for enhancing bilateral relations and trade between the two nations.
    Jonathan Granoff, Newsweek, 29 Jan. 2025
  • My 10-year career in public relations has given me invaluable skills for this game (strategic mindset, relationship building mastery, succeeding under pressure), and starting my own business has brought those skills to unlocked hidden levels.
    Dalton Ross, EW.com, 29 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • In late January, Prom compared online prices at Aldi and Walmart to prices for comparable items at two relatively high-end supermarkets: Whole Foods and a local ma-and-pa chain.
    Daniel de Visé, USA TODAY, 1 Feb. 2025
  • While administrative positions have grown by 9%, faculty numbers have shrunk by 14%, creating the highest student-faculty ratio among nine comparable state colleges.
    Andrea Apa, Sun Sentinel, 31 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • According to the team, the fluid dynamics involved in periodic cooking may be applicable in other materials research projects.
    Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 7 Feb. 2025
  • Panama says the toll rates, which are calculated using a universally applicable formula, are being applied fairly to all ships, regardless of nationality.
    Nate Iglehart, The Christian Science Monitor, 5 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Despite arguably kicking off the trend of internet shutdowns a decade ago with an almost year-long blackout in the western province of Xinjiang, China is not a frequent offender.
    James Griffiths, CNN, 9 Jan. 2020
  • West made his triumphant return to Twitter last Friday after an almost year-long hiatus.
    NBC News, NBC News, 21 Apr. 2018

Thesaurus Entries Near relative

Cite this Entry

“Relative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/relative. Accessed 10 Feb. 2025.

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