relent

[ri-lent] / rɪˈlɛnt /

VERB

die down; let up

Synonyms

STRONGEST

acquiesce capitulate cave in come around comply ease off give in give up let go quit relax slacken soften subside

STRONG

drop ease ebb fall fold forbear melt moderate slow wane weaken yield

WEAK

be merciful change one's mind cool it cry uncle die away ease up on give quarter give some slack give way go along with go easy on have mercy have pity lay back let it happen lighten up mellow out say uncle show mercy

Antonyms

STRONGEST

grow increase worry

STRONG

advance ascend continue free rise

WEAK

build

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But data from last month showed apparel makers appeared to relent, as costs from the Iran war and the U.S.-led trade war pile up.

From MarketWatch • May 12, 2026

After years of holding out on active ETFs amid fears of cannibalizing existing, higher-fee strategies, many managers are starting to relent.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 4, 2026

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the Government "won't relent in our fight against antisemitism and terror".

From BBC • Apr. 21, 2026

I relent that I’m both a lapsed fashion student and someone who spent their adolescence and early teens marveling at Jacobs’ designs and Coppola’s films.

From Salon • Mar. 27, 2026

I did, I suppose, hope that she might finally relent a little and make some conciliatory response or other, allowing us once and for all to put the whole episode behind us.

From "The Remains of the Day" by Kazuo Ishiguro

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