relent

[ ri-lent ]

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.

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

/ 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

Other Words From

• re·lenting·ly adverb
• nonre·lenting adjective
• unre·lented adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of relent¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of relent¹

C14: from re- + Latin lentāre to bend, from lentus flexible, tenacious

Example Sentences

Cruz’s office declined for many hours to confirm the trip, eventually relenting when the senator decided to come home Thursday afternoon.

From Washington Post

Google only relented on its own threat to pull its search engine out of Australia after signing deals with the country’s major publishers that would allow it to sidestep the most stringent parts of the law.

From Washington Post

A dry weekend offers relief, but cold temperatures do not relent.

From Washington Post

The council passed a measure that encouraged the song’s playing before sporting events, and Ehlers relented.

From Washington Post

Express forecastForecast in detailAn unsettled, wintry weather regime took hold in late January and shows no sign of relenting this week.

From Washington Post

She begged their father to contact him, refusing to relent until he sent an inquiring telegram.

From The Daily Beast

Only then does Trudy relent, saying that he should get an apartment in Manhattan.

From The Daily Beast

Then, in 1937, in a 5–4 decision, the Justices began to relent.

From The Daily Beast

By early Wednesday morning, Abedin had returned, but Weiner sent no signals to Washington that he was ready to relent.

From The Daily Beast

And the senate, pressured by businesses, is in no mood to relent.

From The Daily Beast

Pultusk and Eylau bore witness to his bravery and address on the battlefield, and Napoleon began to relent.

From Project Gutenberg

Anyway she has refused—and will, I fancy, never relent—to allow any extreme idea of food shortage to disturb her routine.

From Project Gutenberg

Fate had been fickle and cold so long; but now, when her smile was worse than a frown, she could easily relent.

From Project Gutenberg

But the King would neither give him release, nor relent towards the Americans.

From Project Gutenberg

The idea struck me that if I were to attack Monsieur Roberge on his weak point, he might relent.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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