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
In Madagascar, Rajoelina has shown no signs of relinquishing power following his removal.
—
Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2025
Analysts warn the plan hinges on Hamas fully disarming and relinquishing power — conditions seen as unlikely.
—Cameron Schoppa, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
The risks associated with relinquishing control over my mobility also give me pause.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 14 Oct. 2025
Liberation lies in relinquishing projection, in surrendering the desire for children to mirror our priorities and accomplishments.
—Literary Hub, 6 Oct. 2025
In the meantime, Kraft can leave more money behind for his extended family, approximately $740 million, without relinquishing control of the team.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 26 Sep. 2025
Few believe Kim would countenance relinquishing his nuclear deterrence, given the fates of Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and Iraq’s Saddam Hussein, both toppled after abandoning their weapons programs.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 17 Sep. 2025
His mother would soon pass, and Agee hadn’t had the opportunity to find a new place to live after relinquishing his apartment pre-Suicide Squad.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 22 Aug. 2025
Genest said by relinquishing control over this aspect of working conditions, the state is granting unions more authority over the issue and, Genest said, weakening management of state government.
—William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2025
Analysts warn the plan hinges on Hamas fully disarming and relinquishing power — conditions seen as unlikely.
—Cameron Schoppa, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
The risks associated with relinquishing control over my mobility also give me pause.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 14 Oct. 2025
Liberation lies in relinquishing projection, in surrendering the desire for children to mirror our priorities and accomplishments.
—Literary Hub, 6 Oct. 2025
In the meantime, Kraft can leave more money behind for his extended family, approximately $740 million, without relinquishing control of the team.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 26 Sep. 2025
Few believe Kim would countenance relinquishing his nuclear deterrence, given the fates of Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and Iraq’s Saddam Hussein, both toppled after abandoning their weapons programs.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 17 Sep. 2025
His mother would soon pass, and Agee hadn’t had the opportunity to find a new place to live after relinquishing his apartment pre-Suicide Squad.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 22 Aug. 2025
Genest said by relinquishing control over this aspect of working conditions, the state is granting unions more authority over the issue and, Genest said, weakening management of state government.
—William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for relinquishing
Verb
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Barnwell argues that surrendering second- and fourth-round picks, while getting both Hendrickson and Phillips, is not an arduous price for the Lions to pay as a team with Super Bowl aspirations.—
Josh Buckhalter,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Oct. 2025
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But other issues in his 20-point peace plan must still be fulfilled, including Hamas surrendering its arms.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Far from abdicating responsibility, these young adults were embracing it and moving, however slowly, into their future roles of caring for us.—
Don Riddell,
CNN Money,
18 Oct. 2025
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In June, the King spoke about the possibility of abdicating to make way for his daughter.—
Stephanie Petit,
PEOPLE,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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If enough satellites are in orbit, this debris could set off a chain reaction, rendering the environment around Earth practically impassable.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
15 Oct. 2025
-
Vast scene is littered with possible landmines In any explosion investigation, rendering the scene safe is paramount, but the nature of Accurate Energetic’s product increases the risk of harm to exponentially.—
Rebekah Riess,
CNN Money,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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David Ryder | Bloomberg | Getty Images A Microsoft engineer is resigning after 13 years at the software giant, claiming the company continues to sell cloud services to the Israeli military and that executives won’t discuss the war in Gaza.—
Jordan Novet,
CNBC,
10 Oct. 2025
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Robertson County Sheriff Terry Gray is resigning after his third DUI arrest in less than two years.—
Josh Wood,
Louisville Courier Journal,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Yet much of Mason’s advice is simply about being useful, by delivering facts and opinions in a clear, elegant way.—
Katy Waldman,
New Yorker,
20 Oct. 2025
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Going abroad to all these countries also means delivering the message of cultural exchange, beyond the products, beyond the brand.—
Miles Socha,
Footwear News,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In response to these changes, a growing number of disenchanted people are taking the leap and renouncing their phones altogether.—
Andrew R. Chow,
Time,
20 Oct. 2025
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Hamas has yet to accept key parts of that proposal, to include renouncing power and giving up all its arms.—
Brett Samuels,
The Hill,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Now, Middleton has returned to public duties and ceding the spotlight is apparently been hard for Queen Camilla.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
18 Oct. 2025
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Duffy has repeatedly pushed back against doubts that the United States could be ceding ground in the new space race.—
Denise Chow,
NBC news,
16 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Relinquishing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/relinquishing. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.
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