relinquish

Synonym Chooser

How is the word relinquish different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of relinquish are abandon, resign, surrender, waive, and yield. While all these words mean "to give up completely," relinquish usually does not imply strong feeling but may suggest some regret, reluctance, or weakness.

relinquished her crown

Where would abandon be a reasonable alternative to relinquish?

While the synonyms abandon and relinquish are close in meaning, abandon stresses finality and completeness in giving up.

abandoned all hope

In what contexts can resign take the place of relinquish?

The synonyms resign and relinquish are sometimes interchangeable, but resign emphasizes voluntary relinquishment or sacrifice without struggle.

resigned her position

When is surrender a more appropriate choice than relinquish?

In some situations, the words surrender and relinquish are roughly equivalent. However, surrender implies a giving up after a struggle to retain or resist.

surrendered their claims

When can waive be used instead of relinquish?

The words waive and relinquish can be used in similar contexts, but waive implies conceding or forgoing with little or no compulsion.

waived the right to a trial by jury

When could yield be used to replace relinquish?

Although the words yield and relinquish have much in common, yield implies concession or compliance or submission to force.

the troops yielded ground grudgingly

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 relinquish The Formally relinquishes Crossword Clue Answer is... Answer: CEDES For more on USA TODAY's Crossword Puzzles Daily Crossword Analysis from Sally Hoelscher Sudoku & Crossword Puzzle Answers This crossword clue page was generated automatically using information from puzzles.usatoday.com. Sally Hoelscher, USA Today, 13 June 2025 Led by third singles standout Daniel Lee, who got the better of Acton-Boxborough’s Jonathan Nguyen – 6-2, 6-1 – in straight sets, Lexington (23-1) seized a lead and never relinquished it. Justin Barrasso, Boston Herald, 10 June 2025 Former bile farmers could also voluntarily relinquish their bears, and many have. Ryley Graham, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 June 2025 In addition there are concerns about relinquishing control of monetary policy as countries in the euro zone are subject to decisions by the ECB, Tursa added. Sophie Kiderlin, CNBC, 10 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for relinquish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for relinquish
Verb
  • Left-hander José Castillo surrendered RBI singles to Eli White and Nick Allen.
    Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 25 June 2025
  • Dominic Canzone’s sixth-inning home run was the seventh run Ober gave up, marking the second time in three starts that Ober has surrendered seven runs.
    Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 24 June 2025
Verb
  • That use of focus group testing earned criticism that studio execs were abdicating their creative responsibilities when making and releasing movies, but Freeman maintained hard data was crucial to reassuring the major studios and reaching cinema audiences.
    Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 19 June 2025
  • Earlier, King Philippe's grandfather, King Leopold III, also abdicated in 1951 amid a political crisis to safeguard the monarchy.
    Janine Henni, People.com, 18 June 2025
Verb
  • Last season also offered up so many reminders that the Mets are liable to render all this hand-wringing and historical perspective moot by late October or early November.
    Jerry Beach, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025
  • Agriculture technology with 3d rendering robot assistant in indoor farm or glasshouse.
    Gabriel Snyder, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 June 2025
Verb
  • Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200 has hired an administrator experienced in curriculum to be its new assistant superintendent for student learning to replace Laurie Fiorenza who resigned, effective June 30, without explanation in April.
    Bob Skolnik, Chicago Tribune, 20 June 2025
  • His third Cabinet resigned in January 2021 following a parliamentary report that found that as many as 10,000 families were forced to repay thousands of euros after they had been wrongly accused of welfare fraud.
    Adam Rasmi, Time, 20 June 2025
Verb
  • The company has booked more than 80 launches with several providers, including rival SpaceX, to deliver Kuiper its satellites into orbit.
    Annie Palmer, CNBC, 23 June 2025
  • The Dodgers trailed 3-0 in the sixth when Muncy delivered his seventh career grand slam — also his 200th homer.
    Greg Beacham, Chicago Tribune, 23 June 2025
Verb
  • The justices who renounced that lie in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Center exposed themselves to scurrilous criticisms and even threats to their safety.
    The Editors, National Review, 24 June 2025
  • Syria's new government, led by a former affiliate of ISIS and Al-Qaeda who has renounced jihadi ties in recent years, has vowed to continue efforts to battle ISIS.
    Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 June 2025
Verb
  • That’s because the SLAM academy is legally a public school, though run privately, which clears the way for the city to cede property to it.
    Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 26 June 2025
  • Four months after fans of the James Bond franchise decried the deal struck between Amazon MGM with producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson to cede creative control of the 007 franchise, hope has arrived in the form of famed director Denis Villeneuve.
    Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 25 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Relinquish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/relinquish. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.

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