1
as in complying
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Dissimilar Words
2
as in merciful
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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
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Recent Examples of relenting
Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 23 Dec. 2025
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
Both initially refused to comply with a subpoena before relenting under threat of a House vote to hold them in contempt.
—Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 27 Feb. 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
Foster loved the book and had even tried to option it, but Demme didn’t see her as a fit, only relenting amid studio pressure.
—Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 14 Feb. 2026
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
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
Both initially refused to comply with a subpoena before relenting under threat of a House vote to hold them in contempt.
—Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 27 Feb. 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
Foster loved the book and had even tried to option it, but Demme didn’t see her as a fit, only relenting amid studio pressure.
—Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 14 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for relenting
Adjective
-
The merciful end came three weeks after Sunderland’s surrender to relegation in May 2017.—
Patrick Boyland,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The age difference between the Aunt Lydia School students and the actors who play them has never felt more merciful than in this week’s episode.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Mullins, 26, died on the floor of the store, succumbing to his wounds before paramedics arrived.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Parker was also fighting tuberculosis at the time, succumbing to the disease just a few months after the battle.—
Colleen Cronin,
Boston Herald,
18 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Despite being a required vaccine in all states to attend public school, rates have been steadily decreasing over the last decade, CDC data shows.—
Arthur Jones II,
ABC News,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Monitoring showed that radionuclides such as cesium spread through coastal waters but became diluted and dispersed over time, with levels in most areas farther out in the ocean decreasing and remaining low and relatively stable after the initial release.—
Eduardo B. Farfán,
The Conversation,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Gold rose on Tuesday, but remained on track for its steepest monthly decline since October 2008, as persistent inflation worries and expectations of higher interest rates due to the impact of the Iran war weighed on the non-yielding metal.—
Ashitha Shivaprasad,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The prospect of higher interest rates as a result of the war could boost government bonds among investors, at the expense of non-yielding precious metals, market strategists told CNBC recently.—
Joseph Wilkins,Hugh Leask,
CNBC,
23 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Mercedes says the sedan can travel 472 miles on a single charge, but that estimate was reached using the more forgiving WLTP testing standard.—
Bryan Hood,
Robb Report,
20 Apr. 2026
-
But while gardening is a relatively forgiving process that can be adjusted over time, there are certain spring gardening do’s and don’ts that may dramatically alter the health of your plants and your garden for the entire growing season.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Despite conceding, Bayern improved as the half progressed.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The 2-0 win over RSL on Wednesday was Miami’s second clean sheet of the season, after conceding eight goals in its previous four games.—
Michelle Kaufman
April 24,
Miami Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But there were no signs that the conflict was subsiding.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Mar. 2026
-
But, by the end of May, the issue was not subsiding.—
Evan Grant,
Dallas Morning News,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The resumption of relations comes just months after Washington ousted Venezuela’s former president and replaced him with a more pliant leader, and could unlock billions of dollars in financing for Caracas, analysts said.—
Jeronimo Gonzalez,
semafor.com,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Some satirists have begun targeting these pliant broadcasters as well.—
Omkar Khandekar,
NPR,
11 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Relenting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/relenting. Accessed 30 Apr. 2026.
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