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
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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
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
While that new detail is likely to please debt holders, who had proposed that current shareholders inject 8 billion reais, the company rejected other changes sought by creditors, including relinquishing control of the board.
—Rachel Gamarski, Bloomberg, 26 Apr. 2026
While the company is seen as relinquishing its multi-year lead on the technology, former Apple insiders said there's still hope.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 6 Apr. 2026
The United States has offered Iran a 15-point proposal for a ceasefire that includes it relinquishing control of the strait, but at the same time has ordered thousands more troops to the region — possibly in preparation for a military attempt to wrest the waterway from Iran.
—David Rising, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
With concerns growing about a global energy crisis, an Iranian official said Tehran had no intention of relinquishing its tight grip on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway for oil.
—Arkansas Online, 18 Mar. 2026
An Iranian official defiantly said Tehran had no intention of relinquishing its tight grip on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway for oil.
—Dallas Morning News, 17 Mar. 2026
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
While that new detail is likely to please debt holders, who had proposed that current shareholders inject 8 billion reais, the company rejected other changes sought by creditors, including relinquishing control of the board.
—Rachel Gamarski, Bloomberg, 26 Apr. 2026
While the company is seen as relinquishing its multi-year lead on the technology, former Apple insiders said there's still hope.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 6 Apr. 2026
The United States has offered Iran a 15-point proposal for a ceasefire that includes it relinquishing control of the strait, but at the same time has ordered thousands more troops to the region — possibly in preparation for a military attempt to wrest the waterway from Iran.
—David Rising, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
With concerns growing about a global energy crisis, an Iranian official said Tehran had no intention of relinquishing its tight grip on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway for oil.
—Arkansas Online, 18 Mar. 2026
An Iranian official defiantly said Tehran had no intention of relinquishing its tight grip on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway for oil.
—Dallas Morning News, 17 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for relinquishing
Verb
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Following a brief standoff, Puscasu was taken into custody after surrendering to police.—
Jeramie Bizzle,
CBS News,
11 May 2026
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This spring, the Japanese art of surrendering to the chef’s hand is experiencing a renaissance in W1.—
Rachel Ingram,
Robb Report,
10 May 2026
Verb
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In its most hostile version, the same qualities are recast as evidence of his succumbing to spectacle and abdicating basic architectural responsibility.—
Julian Rose,
Artforum,
26 Mar. 2026
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Democratic leaders have accused Congress of abdicating its constitutional role, and some members plan to boycott the address or attend in silent protest.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Later that evening, Lennon was assassinated outside of his apartment building, rendering the interview his final words spoken on the record.—
Vikram Murthi,
IndieWire,
15 May 2026
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The Polish writer-director has spent the last decade-plus rendering the period after WWII in severe black-and-white.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Those photos and several others, released by both the Post and other online publications, eventually led to Russini resigning from The Athletic and deleting her social media presence.—
Armando Salguero OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
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All week, Downing Street has insisted that Starmer has no intention of resigning.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
14 May 2026
Verb
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From early development to creative execution, this panel offers insight into how original ideas are brought to life across studios and continents, delivering fresh voices, distinct visual styles, and boundary-pushing humor for global audiences.—
Kevin Giraud,
Variety,
11 May 2026
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Douglas County Sheriff's Office Investigators said the driver fell asleep behind the wheel while delivering packages.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
11 May 2026
Verb
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The program calls for the recognition of Israel and renouncing armed struggle, effectively sidelining Hamas and other factions.—
SAM METZ,
Arkansas Online,
26 Apr. 2026
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The program calls for the recognition of Israel and renouncing armed struggle, effectively sidelining Hamas and other factions.—
Sam Metz,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In the next wave of technological competition, the current disconnect between invention and production could mean ceding both economic value and competitive advantage.—
Eric Kutcher,
Fortune,
13 May 2026
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Entertainment content keeps ceding ground to sports on NBC‘s primetime schedule.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
11 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Relinquishing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/relinquishing. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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