1
as in to surrender
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 to abdicate
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 relinquish
Speaking Thursday, Araghchi said Iran was open to enhanced monitoring by international inspectors but would not relinquish its right to pursue nuclear energy, including uranium enrichment.
—
Frederik Pleitgen, CNN Money, 23 May 2025
For birth families, relinquishing a child was not only shameful but a badge of poverty.
—Barbara Demick, New Yorker, 23 May 2025
But nothing Akasha’s old friend said could persuade Akasha to relinquish his empire.
—Andy Greenberg, Wired News, 22 May 2025
Harvard University will relinquish 175-year-old photographs believed to be the earliest taken of enslaved people to a South Carolina museum devoted to African American history as part of a settlement with one of the subjects’ descendants.
—Leah Willingham, Christian Science Monitor, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for relinquish
Frederik Pleitgen, CNN Money, 23 May 2025
For birth families, relinquishing a child was not only shameful but a badge of poverty.
—Barbara Demick, New Yorker, 23 May 2025
But nothing Akasha’s old friend said could persuade Akasha to relinquish his empire.
—Andy Greenberg, Wired News, 22 May 2025
Harvard University will relinquish 175-year-old photographs believed to be the earliest taken of enslaved people to a South Carolina museum devoted to African American history as part of a settlement with one of the subjects’ descendants.
—Leah Willingham, Christian Science Monitor, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for relinquish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for relinquish
Verb
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Pickard’s only goal surrendered was the one from Sam Reinhart that tied Game 4 with 19.5 seconds left in regulation to send it to overtime.—
David Furones,
Sun Sentinel,
14 June 2025
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The club led 3-0 before surrendering a pair of late goals.—
Ryan Finley,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 June 2025
Verb
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Queen Margrethe later abdicated on Jan. 14, 2024, making her elder son King Frederik X of Denmark.—
Janine Henni,
People.com,
6 June 2025
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Khalil is the bridge through which the film makes its arguments about the hypocrisy of élite liberal education, which feeds on ideals of free inquiry and free speech and abdicates its responsibility in freeing people.—
Doreen St. Félix,
New Yorker,
17 May 2025
Verb
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Script is by mega TV producer Taylor Sheridan, who was commissioned by Warner Bros prior to his current overall deal with Paramount, with the latter granting Taylor’s request to render services, within Paramount’s exclusive window.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
13 June 2025
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Without a levy, the Tax Court has no authority to render such conclusions.—
Jenna Sundel
Jason Lemon,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 June 2025
Verb
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For example, the acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York and almost a dozen other lawyers were either forced to resign or chose to leave their posts over the DOJ's handling of the Eric Adams corruption case.—
Sophie Clark
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 June 2025
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One candidate, Cuomo, was handed the keys to New York State, but resigned in disgrace in a blaze of corruption, mismanagement, and abuse.—
Brad Lander,
New York Daily News,
6 June 2025
Verb
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Some people think forceps by doctors delivering babies in the ‘50s caused brain damage in infants.—
Time,
Time,
10 June 2025
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France’s Pil’s Adventures show will launch in several months’ time and the creative team are hoping this set of 52 mini adventures can deliver sustained success.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
10 June 2025
Verb
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Paul was severely ill, so he was excused from appearing, but Vladimir was taken away by the Bolsheviks after refusing to renounce his father.—
Meilan Solly,
Smithsonian Magazine,
13 June 2025
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The Authority never kept its promises to renounce terrorism and accept Israel.—
Sean Durns,
The Washington Examiner,
6 June 2025
Verb
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In proposing the cuts, the administration has called for ceding certain federal parklands to the states.—
Lila Seidman,
Los Angeles Times,
10 June 2025
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Vladivostok was ceded to Tsarist Russia in 1860 under the Treaty of Peking, which established the border between China and Russia along the Amur and Ussuri Rivers, as indicated on Newsweek's maps in this article.—
Isabel van Brugen
John Feng,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Relinquish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/relinquish. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.
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