Synonyms of relinquishing

relinquishing

verb

present participle of relinquish

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

• surrendering
• rendering
• delivering
• ceding
• transferring
• yielding
• abandoning
• resigning
• turning in
• committing
• entrusting
• giving up
• turning over
• laying down
• releasing
• forfeiting
• waiving
• handing over
• discarding
• renouncing
• coughing up
• consigning
• deserting
• shedding
• forsaking
• abnegating
• parting (with)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• keeping
• retaining
• withholding

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

• abdicating
• resigning
• renouncing
• ceding
• surrendering
• denying
• vacating
• abnegating
• waiving
• abandoning
• stepping down (from)
• disowning
• disclaiming
• disavowing
• forsaking
• abjuring
• stepping aside (from)
• yielding
• demitting
• deserting
• giving up
• handing over
• quitting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• claiming
• assuming
• appropriating
• seizing
• protecting
• confiscating
• securing
• arrogating
• defending
• usurping
• taking over
• safeguarding
• guarding
• wresting

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of relinquishing

But that would have meant Parton relinquishing half the publishing rights and therefore half the royalties. — Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026

America is the ultimate answer to the pogrom, and to the emancipation Europe offered on the condition of relinquishing Jewish ethnic and cultural distinctiveness. — Rory Lancman, New York Daily News, 5 Aug. 2026

Giudice survived prison, divorce and years of family warfare without relinquishing her place at the center of New Jersey. — Maer Roshan, HollywoodReporter, 4 Aug. 2026

For Harrison, the collaboration also meant relinquishing some control. — Spin Staff, SPIN, 22 July 2026

Clearly, the Flyers are comfortable with relinquishing first-round picks in their next four drafts as there is more value in having a true 1C in Carlsson. — Kevin Kurz, New York Times, 8 July 2026

But for Iran, reopening the strait does not mean relinquishing control of it. — Xiaoqian Lin, CNN Money, 29 June 2026

Furthermore, leaders like George Washington achieved greatness not by hoarding power, but by relinquishing it. — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 24 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