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
Iran also demanded in early April the right to collect tolls as a precondition for relinquishing its chokehold on the strait.
—
Wyatte Grantham-Philips,
Fortune,
23 June 2026
In 2023, ten years after relinquishing the kneeling figures, the Met gave a further 14 items from its collection back to Cambodia.
—
Oscar Holland,
CNN Money,
17 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
Wyatte Grantham-Philips,
Fortune,
23 June 2026
In 2023, ten years after relinquishing the kneeling figures, the Met gave a further 14 items from its collection back to Cambodia.
—
Oscar Holland,
CNN Money,
17 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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Boise’s rough end to May stretched into June, and the first-year club left Madison, Wisconsin, last week surrendering four unanswered goals in the second half for an embarrassing loss.
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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Officers found a victim suffering from a gunshot wound and immediately began rendering aid.
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Officers began rendering medical aid until emergency medical crews arrived.
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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The open-air happy-hour atmosphere is laid-back, family-friendly, community-oriented, and tropical while still delivering on quality music.
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This statement sandal captures the alternative aesthetic of Doc Marten combat boots while still delivering on comfort.
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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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.
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Eight years ago, from the same spot, Brooks Koepka elected to chip across the green into a front bunker, essentially ceding a bogey instead of risking a double, triple or worse.
Cite this Entry
“Relinquishing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/relinquishing. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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