1
as in succumbed
to cease resistance (as to another's arguments, demands, or control)
the supervisor finally relented in the face of the petition, and allowed employees to take longer lunch breaks
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in subsided
to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually
the fury of the storm relented, and the next day the sun finally broke through the clouds
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of relented
With the sun still high in the sky at six o’clock, the heat had barely relented.
—
Seth Harp, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
At last the lieutenant relented—sort of.
—D. T. Max, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
Advertisement In 1959, after a year of pressure from the Women’s Emergency Committee to Reopen Our Schools and a federal court order, Faubus relented and Little Rock’s public high schools reopened.
—Time, 4 Sep. 2025
Someone came up with a fix, and the Japanese eventually relented.
—Henry Larson, NPR, 2 Sep. 2025
That entanglement allowed Biden to traverse the country haranguing business on equity, climate, daycare, union labor, and other whole-of-government crusades—while taunting Republicans who relented for the sake of home-district dollars.
—Clyde Wayne Crews Jr, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Though initially reluctant, Ivey relented when Jenkins, 31, promised to stay on the phone with the elder boy during the walk.
—Maia Nehme, Charlotte Observer, 13 Aug. 2025
The judge relented in the face of his daughter’s determination, perhaps more than a little proud of her patriotic pluck.
—Literary Hub, 7 Aug. 2025
But unlike those mandatory G+ logins—on which Google eventually relented before shutting down the G+ service—our reading of the tea leaves suggests that, this time, the search giant is extremely pleased with how things are going.
—Lee Hutchinson, ArsTechnica, 5 Aug. 2025
Seth Harp, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
At last the lieutenant relented—sort of.
—D. T. Max, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
Advertisement In 1959, after a year of pressure from the Women’s Emergency Committee to Reopen Our Schools and a federal court order, Faubus relented and Little Rock’s public high schools reopened.
—Time, 4 Sep. 2025
Someone came up with a fix, and the Japanese eventually relented.
—Henry Larson, NPR, 2 Sep. 2025
That entanglement allowed Biden to traverse the country haranguing business on equity, climate, daycare, union labor, and other whole-of-government crusades—while taunting Republicans who relented for the sake of home-district dollars.
—Clyde Wayne Crews Jr, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Though initially reluctant, Ivey relented when Jenkins, 31, promised to stay on the phone with the elder boy during the walk.
—Maia Nehme, Charlotte Observer, 13 Aug. 2025
The judge relented in the face of his daughter’s determination, perhaps more than a little proud of her patriotic pluck.
—Literary Hub, 7 Aug. 2025
But unlike those mandatory G+ logins—on which Google eventually relented before shutting down the G+ service—our reading of the tea leaves suggests that, this time, the search giant is extremely pleased with how things are going.
—Lee Hutchinson, ArsTechnica, 5 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for relented
Verb
-
Today that speech is widely seen as the setup for the historic market collapse of 2000 in which many hot new internet companies succumbed.—
Geoff Colvin,
Fortune,
30 Sep. 2025
-
There have been moments where Marr and Morrissey nearly succumbed to the pressure.—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Whether that's because bullying would have subsided anyway or because the ordinance itself is causing kids to think twice is anyone's guess.—
Alec Johnson,
jsonline.com,
1 Oct. 2025
-
When the din inside Rams Park had finally subsided, Arne Slot attempted to put a positive spin on a wretched night for Liverpool.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The apartment building will contain 14 one-bedroom and 10 two-bedroom units, according to an application the developer submitted to the city earlier this week.—
Theresa Clift,
Sacbee.com,
4 Oct. 2025
-
Once again this year, fourth grade teachers around the county turned their classrooms into recording studios, and their students submitted outstanding stories, interviews and commentaries for NPR's Student Podcast Challenge.—
Jordan Owens,
NPR,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Educator turnover in Wisconsin public schools has decreased from pandemic highs but remains elevated.—
Kayla Huynh,
jsonline.com,
6 Oct. 2025
-
After just a few minutes on each arm, the soreness had noticeably decreased, and my arms looked more defined and less puffy, especially near the underarm area where water retention tends to settle.—
Francesca Krempa,
StyleCaster,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Across nine competitive matches this season, Arsenal have conceded just three goals.—
James McNicholas,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
-
However, de Apziazu conceded streamers’ ambition and budgets are still leading to market-leading productions, even if fewer of them are made.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
So how the hell did that happen when cinematic box office is diminished generally?—
Anne Thompson,
IndieWire,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Cyber threats have not diminished, and CFOs are as vigilant as ever, Gallucci noted.—
Sheryl Estrada,
Fortune,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Reliever Luke Weaver walked the free-swinging Ceddanne Rafaela, gave up a hustle double to Nick Sogard, then surrendered the go-ahead two-run single to pinch-hitter Masataka Yoshida that ultimately proved to be the deciding blow.—
Jackson Roberts,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
-
That’s the eighth-fewest surrendered in a game during the Campbell era.—
Colton Pouncy,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Onscreen, a bridezilla sent an equivalent table soaring through a banquet hall, felling at least one chandelier.—
Vince Aletti,
New Yorker,
3 Oct. 2025
-
They’re supposed to do fine in extreme heat and snow, though residents of other cities have had to rescue them when they’ve been felled by weather.—
Scottie Andrew,
CNN Money,
3 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Relented.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/relented. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
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