1
as in surrendering
to give (something) over to the control or possession of another usually under duress
the boy reluctantly relinquished the illegal fireworks to the police officer
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in abdicating
to give up (as a position of authority) formally
the retiring CEO relinquished his position to the company's vice president with very mixed feelings
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of relinquishing
But for Iran, reopening the strait does not mean relinquishing control of it.
—
Xiaoqian Lin,
CNN Money,
29 June 2026
Furthermore, leaders like George Washington achieved greatness not by hoarding power, but by relinquishing it.
—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Fortune,
24 June 2026
Loth promptly went out and took care of business, taking the lead early before briefly relinquishing it, then pulling away down the stretch.
—
Frank Rajkowski,
Twin Cities,
6 June 2026
Consumers are intrigued by convenience, but at the same time clearly uneasy about relinquishing control.
—
Jacques Ledbetter,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
Trump has said numerous times that any final resolution would have to involve Iran relinquishing its nuclear program, either by means of a diplomatic agreement or by force.
—
Chris Boccia,
ABC News,
13 May 2026
And at the counter, where chef and guest are separated by little more than a stretch of the hand, everything rests on precision, presence and the quiet thrill of relinquishing control to the chef’s capable hands.
—
Rachel Ingram,
Robb Report,
10 May 2026
The Monarchs went 8-1 in league play before relinquishing the district title.
—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 May 2026
That’s one reason that Iran specifically requested Vance as an interlocutor for negotiations, in which Tehran has so far obtained a cease-fire without relinquishing control of the Strait of Hormuz or giving up its nuclear program.
—
David A. Graham,
The Atlantic,
30 Apr. 2026
Xiaoqian Lin,
CNN Money,
29 June 2026
Furthermore, leaders like George Washington achieved greatness not by hoarding power, but by relinquishing it.
—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Fortune,
24 June 2026
Loth promptly went out and took care of business, taking the lead early before briefly relinquishing it, then pulling away down the stretch.
—
Frank Rajkowski,
Twin Cities,
6 June 2026
Consumers are intrigued by convenience, but at the same time clearly uneasy about relinquishing control.
—
Jacques Ledbetter,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
Trump has said numerous times that any final resolution would have to involve Iran relinquishing its nuclear program, either by means of a diplomatic agreement or by force.
—
Chris Boccia,
ABC News,
13 May 2026
And at the counter, where chef and guest are separated by little more than a stretch of the hand, everything rests on precision, presence and the quiet thrill of relinquishing control to the chef’s capable hands.
—
Rachel Ingram,
Robb Report,
10 May 2026
The Monarchs went 8-1 in league play before relinquishing the district title.
—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 May 2026
That’s one reason that Iran specifically requested Vance as an interlocutor for negotiations, in which Tehran has so far obtained a cease-fire without relinquishing control of the Strait of Hormuz or giving up its nuclear program.
—
David A. Graham,
The Atlantic,
30 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for relinquishing
Verb
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After that victory, Makhachev moved up to welterweight, surrendering his 155-pound title.
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Freeland also pitched out of trouble in the fifth after surrendering back-to-back one-out singles.
Verb
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They’d be upset about Article One of the Constitution, the legislative branch abdicating its powers; that is, the people’s power to wage war and to levy tariffs.
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Dinello was right, and The Late Show eventually became late night’s ratings leader—a throne that CBS is now voluntarily abdicating.
Verb
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This lack of competition has stunted the organizational capacity of both the Democratic and Republican Parties, rendering them hollow and unable to cultivate, train, or support a pipeline of young candidates.
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Officers found a victim suffering from a gunshot wound and immediately began rendering aid.
Verb
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Six months after resigning, Phillips has yet to turn over any records.
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Misan Harriman, chair of London’s Southbank Centre, is resigning following accusations of sharing antisemitic posts.
Verb
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Paparazzi are posted up outside MSG snapping photos of workers ripping up carpets and delivering drapery.
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Fundamentals eBay trades at a discount to the industry while delivering stronger profitability than peers.
Verb
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Corbett, of Palatine, announced his independent candidacy days after renouncing the current state of the Republican Party and dropping his consulting business work with GOP contenders.
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The program calls for the recognition of Israel and renouncing armed struggle, effectively sidelining Hamas and other factions.
Verb
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When the Spanish settlers decamped for Cuba in 1763 after ceding Florida to the English, the few surviving Tequesta, their numbers decimated by 200 years of captivity and slavery, conflict and ill treatment, are believed to have departed with them.
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As Jimmy is looking for options to simultaneously cut costs and jettison the property entirely, Sydney is trying to figure out how to do a dinner service with a pantry that’s nearly empty and a former mentor/partner/colleague, in Carmy, who is very bad at actually ceding control.
Cite this Entry
“Relinquishing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/relinquishing. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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