relenting 1 of 2

adjective

1
as in complying

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Relevance

Dissimilar Words
2
as in merciful

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

relenting

2 of 2

verb

present participle of relent
1
as in succumbing
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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in decreasing
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

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 relenting
Adjective
Gaviota’s non-relenting expansion amid a severe economic crisis significantly contributed to the country’s current humanitarian emergency. — Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 23 Dec. 2025
Verb
Russia's leader, however, has exhibited little sign of relenting. — Aidan Stretch, CBS News, 29 June 2026 Speedy Jonah Cox replaced Devers, who tried to shoo him away before relenting and storming through the dugout. — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 21 June 2026 But Tehran offered no sign of relenting on its enrichment program, and by Wednesday afternoon, had warned that tanker traffic would halt through the strait until Israel paused its attacks in Lebanon. — Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026 Ayatollah Khomeini initially banned the game, relenting shortly before his death, and today Iran has a few grandmasters playing the game their country brought to the world. — Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 23 Mar. 2026 But Iranian officials showed no sign of relenting, warning the country could strike electricity targets across the Persian Gulf and even hit plants that supply the region with drinking water. — Chantal Da Silva, NBC news, 23 Mar. 2026 On March 18, temperatures in Phoenix reached 102 degrees, the city’s earliest 100-degree day on record — and the heat shows no signs of relenting. — Sarah Henry, AZCentral.com, 21 Mar. 2026 Iran shows no signs of relenting. — Michael Loria, USA Today, 15 Mar. 2026 The settlement, which must still be approved by a bankruptcy court, comes after the diocese had fought a state a grand jury investigation for years before relenting last year. — ABC News, 18 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for relenting
  1. yielding
  2. merciful
  3. succumbing
  4. decreasing
  5. pliant
  6. forgiving
  7. conceding
  8. subsiding
Adjective
  • After soaking in the salad for a while, the raisins plumped and swelled, adding a yielding explosivity.
    — Cooking Editor, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
  • An unexpectedly hawkish Fed meeting chaired by Kevin Warsh last week boosted expectations for a year-end interest rate ⁠hike, further pressuring gold prices, as the prospect of higher interest rates tend to weigh ‌on the non-yielding precious metal.
    — Joseph Wilkins, CNBC, 23 June 2026
Definition of yielding
Adjective
  • Just when a dreadful day was approaching a merciful end, the chants from the remaining crowd at Citi Field poked fun at the New York Mets’ mess in a way boos cannot match with ridicule.
    — Will Sammon, New York Times, 25 June 2026
  • That painful night in Dallas now feels merciful, compared with what this Avs team just experienced.
    — Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 27 May 2026
Definition of merciful
Verb
  • The incident sent all three people to the hospital, where Zacapala was later pronounced dead after succumbing to his injuries, police said.
    — Lauren Pozen, CBS News, 13 July 2026
  • In his 1944 book Man-eaters of Kumaon, Corbett recounts how Bachelor survived after being shot through the face, succumbing to the injuries from the subsequent bullets fired at him four days later.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 July 2026
Definition of succumbing
Verb
  • Several regions observed consumers looking for cheaper alternatives to products or decreasing discretionary spending to save money, according to the report.
    — Alex Harring, CNBC, 15 July 2026
  • More rain through Friday before conditions improve Rain chances should begin decreasing across eastern parts of the region by Friday and through the weekend, although isolated showers and storms could linger in western areas.
    — Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 15 July 2026
Definition of decreasing
Adjective
  • In many ways, Trump is at the height of his power, surrounded by pliant leaders and able to count on a cohesive group of followers.
    — Colin Pascal, Baltimore Sun, 10 June 2026
  • The unions want their pliant board majority in place through 2032.
    — U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 May 2026
Definition of pliant
Adjective
  • In just over half those states, the more forgiving deadlines apply only to ballots cast by military and overseas voters.
    — Mark Sherman, Chicago Tribune, 29 June 2026
  • The World Cup’s new, forgiving format allows the top eight of the 12 third-place teams, like third-place South Korea (1-0-2), to move on to knockout play with as few as three points.
    — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 26 June 2026
Definition of forgiving
Verb
  • France has bludgeoned the opposition, scoring 16 goals while conceding just two.
    — Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 13 July 2026
  • With halftime approaching, rookie defender Cate Hardin mistimed a challenge on Summit forward Ally Brazier inside the box, conceding a penalty.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 12 July 2026
Definition of conceding
Verb
  • India, one of the world's most prolific IPO markets, was gearing up for issues worth $50 billion as tension in the Middle East were subsiding.
    — Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 9 July 2026
  • The afternoon started tough until the wind kept subsiding, and players began taking aim at flags.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2026
Definition of subsiding

Browse Nearby Words

relented
relenting
relentless
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Cite this Entry

“Relenting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/relenting. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

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