RELENTED Synonyms: 114 Similar and Opposite Words

relented

verb

past tense of relent

as in succumbed

to cease resistance (as to another's arguments, demands, or control) the supervisor finally relented in the face of the petition, and allowed employees to take longer lunch breaks

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Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in subsided

to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually the fury of the storm relented, and the next day the sun finally broke through the clouds

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of relented When the video somehow caught the attention of a casting director, her parents relented, and Natalie, an emergency room nurse, began shuttling Jenna back and forth to LA for auditions several days a week. — Alice Robb, Vogue, 22 Oct. 2026 After some back and forth, with Harris insisting that his project would be less a traditional biography and more a biography of his work, David relented. — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 21 Oct. 2026 Wishing to avoid scandal, the Mesmers relented and the wedding proceeded in 1887. — Andrew Coletti, Popular Science, 14 Oct. 2026 The Palestinian militant group Hamas initially resisted using women in suicide attacks but relented in 2004. — Sara Harmouch, The Conversation, 1 Oct. 2026 The company relented to a public outcry and lowered the price, again impacting the bottom line. — Joshua Ceballos, Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2026 Wagoner relented and Parton, with a song that captured the pain of deep heartbreak, embarked on a solo career almost incomparable in the history of American music. — CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026 Payne, who was apparently in love with Shelley himself, sat on them for a little while, but eventually relented. — Eric Lach, New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2026 Mourinho reacted by again threatening to leave, but relented after receiving further public backing from the president. — Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for relented

Verb

Even those who have succumbed to cancer are able to be sent off like this, since toxic chemotherapy drugs are usually long gone from the body by the time of passing.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 24 Oct. 2026
The city’s Medical Examiner ruled the victim’s death a homicide after determining Wong succumbed to stab wounds to his neck and torso.

— Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of succumbed

Verb

But within a couple years, as the pandemic eased and community-police tension subsided, Bolingbrook Police Chief Mike Rompa started using his village purchasing card – known as a p-card – in a different way than others with the same cards.

— Irika Sargent, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
Meanwhile, conditions were improving in the tourist destination of Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, where residents began resuming normal activities as the rain subsided.

— ABC News, ABC News, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of subsided

Verb

Telecom stocks — Shares of AT & T and T-Mobile fell more than 5% each, while Verizon shares decreased 1% on a Bloomberg News report that SpaceX is in private talks to lease 80,000 cell towers.

— Paulina Likos, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026
As technology has advanced, launch costs have decreased, and satellites have become more efficient, smaller and cheaper to build.

— David Zamora, Space.com, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of decreased

Verb

Such a trend, however diminished, persists particularly among constituencies with close institutional ties to the state.

— Tamir Sorek, The Conversation, 20 Oct. 2026
Finally, Nieves encouraged young salsa singers to pursue their dreams, even as radio and other traditional avenues for exposure have diminished.

— Tere Aguilera, Billboard, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of diminished

Verb

He was stationed in India in 1945 when Japan surrendered, marking the end of the war.

— Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2026
There were penalties that hampered a couple drives and a few too many explosive plays surrendered on defense for a second consecutive week for Cristobal’s liking.

— Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of surrendered

Verb

Griess, the superintendent of the National Mall and Memorial Parks, said the 430 trees that were felled were not identified as hazardous or raising safety concerns.

— Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 12 Oct. 2026
Yet trees that took a millennium to grow can be felled in under an hour.

— Annika Hammerschlag, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of fell

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“Relented.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/relented. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of relented

verb

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