1
as in complying
Related Words
Relevance
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
Lisa Mascaro, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 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 Republicans had rejected them until relenting in the Senate vote after midnight.
—Lisa Mascaro, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 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
-
Despite his impassive eyes, balding pate, and slit of a smile, Robert Duvall could be volcanic and melancholic, mysterious and straightforward, vengeful and merciful.—
Peter Tonguette,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Feb. 2026
-
In a way, this can seem merciful.—
Katherine J. Wu,
The Atlantic,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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And the bumbling nature of Lesgate, with Jones playing the internal conflicts sharply, comes with succumbing to the horrid nature of what money can bring.—
David John Chávez,
Mercury News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
In a dramatic departure from the novels, Kay and Dorothy’s father died in an armed robbery, rather than succumbing to leukemia.—
Max Gao,
HollywoodReporter,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The situation mirrors a recent case in Sweetwater, where hundreds of families were also displaced under similar terms, with financial incentives decreasing the longer residents wait to leave.—
Ivan Taylor,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Higher rates can help tame inflation and allow savers to earn more interest on their accounts, while lower rates can help stimulate the economy by decreasing borrowing costs.—
Rachel Barber,
USA Today,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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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
-
Golden Steer wet-ages its meat, which softens the fibers, perhaps too much: my sixteen-ounce Shorthorn (the menu’s term for a New York strip) was as yielding as a filet mignon—disconcerting, not delightful—and, upon slicing, left a puddle of diluted jus on the plate.—
Helen Rosner,
New Yorker,
1 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Cherry tomatoes are more forgiving than larger varieties and tend to produce reliably.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Charlotte Observer,
24 Mar. 2026
-
An additional 15 states that have more forgiving deadlines for ballots from military and overseas voters also could be impacted.—
Mark Sherman,
Twin Cities,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Their rim protection was even worse, conceding 84 points in the paint.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Livakovic was the difference maker, keeping Colombia from scoring after conceding a fluke goal early on with four crucial saves.—
Kyle Foley,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 Mar. 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 endgame could also involve replacing hardliners with more pliant leaders; Mojtaba Khamenei, appointed to fill his late father’s shoes, isn’t likely to succeed.—
Michael M. Rosen,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Mar. 2026
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But whether that would make Tehran more pliant, let alone spur regime change, is questionable.—
Ramin Mostaghim,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Relenting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/relenting. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
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