RELINQUISHING Synonyms: 56 Similar and Opposite Words

relinquishing

verb

present participle of relinquish

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

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of relinquishing 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 Iranian media have emphasized that reopening the waterway to shipping does not mean Tehran is relinquishing its wartime claims over the strategic chokepoint. —

Tim Lister, CNN Money, 24 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 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for relinquishing

Verb

Sirianni, 45, a hypercompetitive hothead who has conspicuously engaged with players (in Eagles and opposing jerseys), coaches (Eagles and opposing), fans (same) and officials, wants to be a mature person who can rein in his emotions, but not at the expense of surrendering his essence.

— Michael Silver, New York Times, 16 June 2026
Filling this time with meetings (or low-yield tasks) means surrendering the hours best suited for deep work and strategic thinking to reactive demands.

— Cynthia Pong, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026