relent

verb

ri-ˈlent How to pronounce relent (audio)
Definition of relentnext
1
as in to succumb
to cease resistance (as to another's arguments, demands, or control) the supervisor finally relented in the face of the petition, and allowed employees to take longer lunch breaks

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to subside
to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually the fury of the storm relented, and the next day the sun finally broke through the clouds

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb relent differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of relent are capitulate, defer, submit, succumb, and yield. While all these words mean "to give way to someone or something that one can no longer resist," relent implies a yielding through pity or mercy by one who holds the upper hand.

finally relented and let the children stay up late

When is capitulate a more appropriate choice than relent?

The meanings of capitulate and relent largely overlap; however, capitulate stresses the fact of ending all resistance and may imply either a coming to terms (as with an adversary) or hopelessness in the face of an irresistible opposing force.

officials capitulated to the protesters' demands

Where would defer be a reasonable alternative to relent?

Although the words defer and relent have much in common, defer implies a voluntary yielding or submitting out of respect or reverence for or deference and affection toward another.

I defer to your expertise in these matters

When can submit be used instead of relent?

In some situations, the words submit and relent are roughly equivalent. However, submit suggests full surrendering after resistance or conflict to the will or control of another.

a repentant sinner vowing to submit to the will of God

When is it sensible to use succumb instead of relent?

While in some cases nearly identical to relent, succumb implies weakness and helplessness to the one that gives way or an overwhelming power to the opposing force.

a stage actor succumbing to the lure of Hollywood

When would yield be a good substitute for relent?

While the synonyms yield and relent are close in meaning, yield may apply to any sort or degree of giving way before force, argument, persuasion, or entreaty.

yields too easily in any argument

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 relent Advertisement In 1959, after a year of pressure from the Women’s Emergency Committee to Reopen Our Schools and a federal court order, Faubus relented and Little Rock’s public high schools reopened. —Time, 4 Sep. 2025 Someone came up with a fix, and the Japanese eventually relented. —Henry Larson, NPR, 2 Sep. 2025 One partner relents to the other’s wishes, without presenting their own needs and wants. —Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025 Then again, anyone can yell at you remotely without relenting. —Richard Siken august 26, Literary Hub, 26 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for relent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for relent
  1. succumb
  2. subside
  3. submit
  4. diminish
  5. concede
  6. decrease
  7. surrender
  8. budge
Verb
  • Here are some steps to prevent your team from succumbing to the sense of powerlessness associated with the Great Lock-In trend.
    — Juliette Han, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
  • And when Jîna succumbed to her injuries on September 16, the Shargh reporter Niloofar Hamedi defied orders to keep quiet and told the world about her death in a tweet.
    — Fatemeh Jamalpour, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2025
Definition of succumb
Verb
  • From the Luddites smashing looms in 19th-century England to autoworkers walking out over the introduction of robots to the factory floor in the 1980s, resistance has flared before either being crushed or subsiding, giving way to the new economies and social orders the technologies ushered in.
    — Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
  • The pharmaceutical company’s shares traded as high as $942 last summer, but have subsided to about $755.
    — John Dorfman, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Definition of subside
Verb
  • In order to advance to the semifinalist round, brands had to submit clinical data backing up their claims.
    — Megan McIntyre, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
  • The proposal was submitted by Jay Butera, 67, a staunch climate advocate and investor who has held shares in Tesla since the company’s 2010 IPO.
    — Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 16 Sep. 2025
Definition of submit
Verb
  • But with Burrow now looking likely to miss the majority of the regular season, those chances look severely diminished.
    — Ben Morse, CNN Money, 16 Sep. 2025
  • One potential problem with this set-up is that the SCORE Act diminishes the role of state law in subject areas traditionally governed by states.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Definition of diminish
Verb
  • The department is denying student loan forgiveness to borrowers in the IBR plan who have reached the 20- or 25-year threshold for discharge, even while the department concedes that loan forgiveness is authorized under IBR and has not been blocked or enjoined by any court.
    — Adam S. Minsky, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
  • In his first big league start, Yesavage struck out nine batters in five innings while conceding just one run.
    — Drew VonScio, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
Definition of concede
Verb
  • Spaying a female pet prevents uterine infections and greatly decreases the risk of breast tumors.
    — Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
  • Even with aggressive climate action that drastically decreases fossil fuel burning, the primary driver of global warming, smoke levels are likely to increase substantially, doubling by the middle of the century.
    — Alejandra Borunda, NPR, 19 Sep. 2025
Definition of decrease
Verb
  • Authorities have not yet revealed the full details of how Robinson was detained, but multiple reports suggested that his father urged him to surrender after recognizing his son in the grainy surveillance footage released by police.
    — Richard Hall, Time, 14 Sep. 2025
  • Once Bailey reached home, the official completion of a walk-off grand slam in the 10th inning, Bailey surrendered himself to the moment.
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 13 Sep. 2025
Definition of surrender
Verb
  • While most of us aren’t testing foundation for 24 hours straight, Ventre says this one doesn’t budge on her clients throughout long event days.
    — Lily Wohlner, Allure, 19 Sep. 2025
  • Advertisement For now, the two sides are at an impasse, and neither appears eager to budge.
    — Nik Popli, Time, 18 Sep. 2025
Definition of budge

Browse Nearby Words

relegations
relent
relented
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Cite this Entry

“Relent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/relent. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.

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