RELENTS Synonyms: 110 Similar and Opposite Words

relents

verb

present tense third-person singular of relent

as in succumbs

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

as in subsides

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 relents Instead of using moving rooms and telescopic furniture to squeeze in a full-length longitudinal bed, however, Bürstner relents to the transverse layout far more common in camper vans of this size. — New Atlas, 11 Aug. 2026 Speaker Mike Johnson is working to accommodate Republican lawmakers who are angry that the Senate won’t pass the SAVE America Act and are insisting that it be included in must-pass bills until the Senate relents. — Kevin Freking, Los Angeles Times, 22 July 2026 This grade slips to a C+ if Arizona eventually relents and grants Pro-Bowl pass rusher Josh Sweat’s trade request. — Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026 Donal eventually relents, however, after his venue burns down in a convenient plot device. — Esther Zuckerman, IndieWire, 11 Sep. 2025 When utilities and grid operators push back, FERC generally relents. — Brian Deese, Foreign Affairs, 9 Sep. 2025 In the early evening in Seville, when the heat relents, Sevillanos take a paseo, or leisurely stroll. — Tia Welch Maerz, Christian Science Monitor, 5 Sep. 2025 One partner relents to the other’s wishes, without presenting their own needs and wants. — Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for relents

Verb

Ayad Akhtar’s new novel, The Radiance, sometimes succumbs to this temptation.

— Zain Khalid, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2026
Wolf succumbs to Shura, a demonic force in the game’s mythology that possesses those who give in to bloodlust.

— Aman Kumar, Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of succumbs

Verb

Chadchart said despite the heavy rain, flooding should recede once the rain subsides, as city officials are working to drain floodwaters as quickly as possible.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2026
Ideally, those refugees would remain in human care for years or even decades until the mussel invasion subsides.

— CBS News, CBS News, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of subsides

Verb

But copying human anatomy makes the hands heavier, and LinkerBot concedes that fingertip force is modest.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 6 Oct. 2026
Shapiro eventually concedes that good-faith developers are at the Homer City campus, something that earns a broad smile from Steffee, exhausted by the politics.

— Salena Zito, Washington Post, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of concedes

Verb

Pyrad works by instantaneously thickening when exposed to fire, forming a char that diminishes heat exposure, extinguishes flames, and decreases the risk of third-degree burns.

— Derek Rose, Time, 15 Oct. 2026
The peak height of the histogram decreases as the number of tosses, N, gets larger.

— Dana Mackenzie, Scientific American, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of decreases

Verb

Once law enforcement submits the application, the potential approval comes back quickly.

— Jeff Wagner, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026
Thankfully, there’s still time to overhaul the CTP before the Moore administration submits its final plan to the General Assembly in January.

— Brian O'Malley, Baltimore Sun, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of submits

Verb

The local control is missing and the local responsibility diminishes significantly.

— John E. McDonough, STAT, 16 Oct. 2026
Pyrad works by instantaneously thickening when exposed to fire, forming a char that diminishes heat exposure, extinguishes flames, and decreases the risk of third-degree burns.

— Derek Rose, Time, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of diminishes

Verb

After five books that try to interpret Elizabeth Taylor, Waters simply surrenders to the vision.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 Aug. 2026
Meanwhile, the Harford County Humane Society tells CBS News Baltimore there have been 140 owner surrenders through the county's animal control this summer, which is double last summer's total.

— Tara Lynch, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of surrenders

Verb

At the same time, reducing the amount of energy entering the system eases the load on mitochondria and reduces oxidative stress.

— Rowan Jacobsen, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
Opponents insist that the proposition eases the way for construction of massive data centers.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026