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.
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Recent Examples of relative
Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 8 Jan. 2026
Even a beloved pair of work overalls can find their way to a nostalgic relative.
—Ashley Poskin, Martha Stewart, 8 Jan. 2026
Denise Chow, NBC news, 5 Nov. 2025
Wall Street’s fear gauge, the CBOE Volatility Index, has signaled relative calm in markets for the majority of the past six months.
—John Towfighi, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for relative
Noun
Here’s everything to know about the Spencer Tiara, from its storied history to which of Diana’s relatives wore it for her own big day in 2018.
—Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 8 Jan. 2026
Even a beloved pair of work overalls can find their way to a nostalgic relative.
—Ashley Poskin, Martha Stewart, 8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
Isaacman, 42, is seen as a relative outsider to lead the space agency.
—Denise Chow, NBC news, 5 Nov. 2025
Wall Street’s fear gauge, the CBOE Volatility Index, has signaled relative calm in markets for the majority of the past six months.
—John Towfighi, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for relative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for relative
Noun
-
Expansion cousins like the Penguins, Flyers, Kings and Blues have all taken home the coveted trophy since then.—
Sean McIndoe,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The younger cousin to former Gators defensive back Dee Webb chose Florida over Penn State and South Carolina.—
Edgar Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
California has a lot of comparative advantages including Silicon Valley and vibrant financial and biotechnology clusters.—
Wayne Winegarden,
Oc Register,
4 Jan. 2026
-
In the latest study, a comparative analysis found that the Log Coffin populations were genetically distinct from China’s hanging coffin community, reinforcing the theory that similar burial strategies arose independently.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
27 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Cold weather-appropriate picks in shearling and suede remain relevant no matter the season.—
Cortne Bonilla,
Vogue,
9 Nov. 2025
-
The data can be sorted by legislative districts, school districts and counties to make the findings more relevant to different audiences.—
Matthew W. Kreuter,
CNN Money,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The outcome could potentially have lasting ramifications for civil-military relations and the boundaries of presidential power under the Constitution, particularly during protest movements and domestic emergencies.—
Deputy News Editor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Nov. 2025
-
O’Neill could separate politics from personal relations.—
Joe Battenfeld,
Boston Herald,
8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
After an office romance begins, employee retention at the organization drops by six percentage points, meaning turnover is 14% greater than in comparable firms.—
Emily Nix,
Fortune,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Putting aside the visceral appeal of the reference to insider trading, are these allegations actually comparable to criminal insider trading in the securities regime?—
Samidh Guha,
ABC News,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
With over 35,000 monthly active users, the platform is designed to allow users to explore different ways of using their digital rewards, depending on availability and applicable guidelines.—
Nia Bowers,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Brandon Cwalina, a spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, which runs Medicaid in the state, said the state already requires every Medicaid applicant to verify their citizenship or, where applicable, their eligible immigration status.—
Kff Health News,
Denver Post,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
That also means its almost time for clocks to fall back.—
Dina Kaur,
AZCentral.com,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Orange County has paid more than $39 million worth of settlements in the almost year since the Airport fire broke out and destroyed more than 100 structures, according to county officials.—
Michael Slaten,
Oc Register,
20 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Relative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/relative. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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