relent

American  

[ri-lent] / rɪˈlɛnt /

verb (used without object)

1. to soften in feeling, temper, or determination; become more mild, compassionate, or forgiving.

   Synonyms:

   yield, bend

2. to become less severe; slacken.

   The winds relented.

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verb (used with object)

1. Obsolete. to cause to soften in feeling, temper, or determination.

2. Obsolete. to cause to slacken; abate.

3. Obsolete. to abandon; relinquish.

relent British  

/ rɪˈlɛnt /

verb

1. to change one's mind about some decided course, esp a harsh one; become more mild or amenable

2. (of the pace or intensity of something) to slacken

3. (of the weather) to become more mild

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Other Word Forms

• nonrelenting
  adjective
• relentingly
  adverb
• unrelented
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of relent

1350–1400; Middle English < Medieval Latin *relentāre, equivalent to Latin re- re- + lentāre to bend, derivative of lentus flexible, viscous, slow

Explanation

Being unwilling to relent is a good qualification for a sales person. You have to keep trying to make the sale and never give in until you've made it. The root of relent is the Latin lentus, which means "to slow down or soften." The original meaning, from the 15th century, most likely had to do with the heart — as in "to stop resisting love." Now, however, relent can have all manner of applications, but the meaning is always the same: to let up, soften, yield or give in. Often, you'll hear the adjective relentless used to describe someone who won't relent: "The firemen refused to relent; they banged relentlessly on the door until I woke up."

Example Sentences

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

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

Sure, I can relent that “Project Hail Mary” is less urgent than this year’s best picture winner, “One Battle After Another,” and not as hyper-specifically relevant to our times as “Eddington.”

From Salon • Mar. 21, 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

But Brave Orchid would not relent; her dainty sister would just have to toughen up.

From "The Woman Warrior" by Maxine Hong Kingston

Related Words

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