relative 1 of 2

noun

ˈre-lə-tiv How to pronounce relative (audio)
Definition of relativenext
as in cousin
a person connected with another by blood or marriage it's always fun to see all your relatives at a big family gathering

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

relative

2 of 2

adjective

1
as in comparative
being such only when compared to something else after being crammed into a one-bedroom apartment, they lived in relative comfort in a two-bedroom house

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in relevant
having to do with the matter at hand I don't need the whole story, just the details that are relative to the case

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 relative
Noun
Nearby, club executives, staff members and relatives of several players followed the match from the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium’s main stand. — Guillermo Rai, New York Times, 25 July 2026 Buckley apparently admitted that the subpoenas shouldn’t have sought phone records of reporters’ relatives. — Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 24 July 2026
Adjective
But what has characterized his agency’s response to the cyclospora outbreak is the relative absence of information, and that owes partly to an absence of staff. — Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 23 July 2026 This relative strength chart shows that whenever GOOGL outperformed the MAGS ETF, both the stock and the ETF tended to advance at a healthy pace. — Frank Cappelleri, CNBC, 22 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for relative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for relative
  1. cousin
  2. comparative
  3. relevant
  4. relation
  5. comparable
  6. applicable
  7. almost
Noun
  • Goodrich, 55, killed both Williams and her cousin, Charles Martin, 45, and in 2024 was sentenced to 66 years in prison.
    — Eric Adler July 28, Kansas City Star, 28 July 2026
  • Ormund makes insinuations that his cousin is gay, which makes Ormund at once the most outwardly homophobic and sexist character in the show presently.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
Definition of cousin
Adjective
  • Collective bargaining as a stabilizing force Stahl’s points reflect the comparative stability that collective bargaining would provide.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 27 July 2026
  • Ben-Ghiat’s comparative work on fascism does not function as a morality play either.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 July 2026
Definition of comparative
Adjective
  • This swift evolution increasingly renders larger surface ships less relevant.
    — Zita Ballinger Fletcher, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
  • After successfully reviving a legacy brand, Astley is now tasked with keeping it relevant through fast-changing social norms and expectations.
    — Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 27 July 2026
Definition of relevant
Noun
  • Waltz reaffirmed that a deal providing a civilian nuclear program for Saudi Arabia will not take effect until the kingdom normalizes relations with Israel.
    — Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 27 July 2026
  • Putin, on the other hand, has no problem rupturing his trade relations, and with them international investment and other forms of connectivity.
    — Frank Lavin, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
Definition of relation
Adjective
  • Taking 4 million barrels off the market would be roughly comparable to the amount that China stopped importing during the war – an action oil analysts say has helped keep energy prices relatively low despite the record-smashing oil supply shock.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 22 July 2026
  • The system is still expanding, but new units are contributing more of the overall growth as comparable sales moderate.
    — Jim Osman, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
Definition of comparable
Adjective
  • This work offers timeless wisdom and principles on strategy, adaptability, and self-mastery, applicable to warfare, politics, and business alike.
    — Julian Hayes II, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
  • Skokie will use an applicable $600,000 grant previously awarded from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) to pay for the improvements, along with additional funding from this year’s Capital Improvement Project budget.
    — Claire Murphy, Chicago Tribune, 26 July 2026
Definition of applicable
Adjective
  • The Chiefs have long been the prototypical contender, the Steelers the paragon of the almost contenders … and the Jets, Browns and Raiders are usually in the third bucket.
    — Jacob Robinson, New York Times, 8 May 2026
  • That also means its almost time for clocks to fall back.
    — Dina Kaur, AZCentral.com, 25 Oct. 2025
Definition of almost

Browse Nearby Words

relationships
relative
relatively
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Relative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/relative. Accessed 31 Jul. 2026.

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