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.

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

“We will not relent until the enemy is totally and decisively defeated, but we do so on our timeline and at our choosing.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 10, 2026

Not until Congress appeared poised to pass the bill anyway did Trump relent, reverse course and sign the measure into law.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 20, 2026

Spare a thought then for Switzerland, which has been hit with punitive tariffs of 39%, and has so far been unable to persuade the US president to relent.

From BBC • Oct. 9, 2025

I sobbed, begging my mother to let me go, telling her that I would never write such words again; but she did not relent until the last soap-word had been cleaned away.

From "Black Boy" by Richard Wright

Vocabulary lists containing relent

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