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
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
At first glance, Beijing’s willingness to play ball on TikTok looks like a sharp reversal from its years of resistance to relinquishing control over the viral video app – the first global social media hit to come out of China.
—Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 20 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
The cost of obtaining them will very quickly amount to billions of dollars, which could force Musk to pay by relinquishing shares.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 5 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
While a strong federal government may be central to the Democratic Party's identity, maintaining that objective likely requires relinquishing control from the capital and encouraging state politicos to explore new ways to achieve success.
—Alex J. Rouhandeh, MSNBC Newsweek, 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
This ain’t my first time relinquishing the title.
—Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2025
Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 26 Sep. 2025
At first glance, Beijing’s willingness to play ball on TikTok looks like a sharp reversal from its years of resistance to relinquishing control over the viral video app – the first global social media hit to come out of China.
—Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 20 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
The cost of obtaining them will very quickly amount to billions of dollars, which could force Musk to pay by relinquishing shares.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 5 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
While a strong federal government may be central to the Democratic Party's identity, maintaining that objective likely requires relinquishing control from the capital and encouraging state politicos to explore new ways to achieve success.
—Alex J. Rouhandeh, MSNBC Newsweek, 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
This ain’t my first time relinquishing the title.
—Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for relinquishing
Verb
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Hawes not only sustained the hit but also controlled the rep from that point forward, shifting his weight forward without surrendering any ground.—
Joe Buscaglia,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
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This month is about surrendering to the pause and letting the answer arise with time rather than forcing your next step.—
Meghan Rose,
Glamour,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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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
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This isn't about abdicating responsibility.—
Julian Hayes II,
Forbes.com,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
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What about the Black artist who, like countless artists before, has his own reasons for rendering nature?—
Lauren Michele Jackson,
New Yorker,
5 Oct. 2025
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After allegedly fleeing the scene without rendering aid or calling authorities, the Louisiana native was charged with negligent homicide, felony hit-and-run and reckless operation of a vehicle.—
Bailey Richards,
PEOPLE,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Macron has previously ruled out resigning himself, vowing to see out his second and last presidential term to its end in 2027.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
7 Oct. 2025
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Jones is a former state legislator who represented the Norfolk area before resigning in 2022.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Bigfoot Forestry frames its work around that balance, advocating for practices that aim to protect ecological function while delivering practical, community-minded results.—
Jon Stojan,
USA Today,
6 Oct. 2025
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Indeed, while some other big media groups, such as ITV and Fremantle, have battled the industry’s headwinds in the last couple years, Banijay Entertainment, whose parent company Banijay Group is listed on the Amsterdam stock exchange, has been delivering strong numbers.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Even worse, Park and his conservative successors had been bolstered by the very imperial forces from which the South Koreans had hoped to escape, in exchange for renouncing their right to forgive and to hold Japan accountable.—
Eun A Jo,
Foreign Affairs,
23 Nov. 2022
Verb
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The company also missed the AI boom, having stopped making the chips that hyperscalers and AI giants like Nvidia badly need seven years ago, and ceding that market to Taiwan’s TSMC and Korea’s Samsung.—
Lila MacLellan,
Fortune,
1 Oct. 2025
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By ceding possession in their own half and inviting the opposition into their own third, City are manufacturing space for Haaland to run into in a way that is not possible when dominating territory.—
Jordan Campbell,
New York Times,
24 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Relinquishing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/relinquishing. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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