relative 1 of 2

noun

ˈre-lə-tiv How to pronounce relative (audio)
Definition of relativenext
as in cousin
a person connected with another by blood or marriage it's always fun to see all your relatives at a big family gathering

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

relative

2 of 2

adjective

1
as in comparative
being such only when compared to something else after being crammed into a one-bedroom apartment, they lived in relative comfort in a two-bedroom house

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in relevant
having to do with the matter at hand I don't need the whole story, just the details that are relative to the case

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 relative
Noun
At the Texas and Connecticut trials, victims’ relatives testified that Jones’ followers — believing his claims that the shooting didn’t happen — subjected them to death and rape threats, in-person harassment and abusive comments on social media. — Jim Vertuno, Fortune, 21 Aug. 2026 The class-action deal covers relatives of people who donated bodies between January 2018 and March 2023, amid uncertainty over which cadavers Lodge plundered before cremation or return to families. — Leah Willingham, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026
Adjective
Model limitations and shortcomings The simulator can rate the relative efficacy of public policies. — Stefan Chavez-Norgaard, The Conversation, 20 Aug. 2026 When speaking to Georgetown’s appeal as a retirement destination, Whitlock also notes its relative affordability (and lack of congestion). — Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for relative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for relative
  1. cousin
  2. comparative
  3. relevant
  4. relation
  5. comparable
  6. applicable
  7. almost
Noun
  • But a cousin suspects foul play and wants further investigation.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Police said their investigation found that four people stole the victim's cousin's Rolex watch.
    — Laura Fay, CBS News, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of cousin
Adjective
  • Harper arrived at Bates College in Maine in 2020 as an idealistic new PhD in comparative literature, grateful for the tenure-track job that promised him that rarest of prizes these days — a career in the humanities.
    — Gary Rosen, Washington Post, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The Foreign Pollution Fee builds on an American comparative advantage in emissions.
    — Bill Cassidy, Foreign Affairs, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of comparative
Adjective
  • Weiss believes the program is in dire need of a shake-up and has to be made more relevant to digital audiences and younger crowds.
    — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Instead, people need choices that are relevant (the decision actually changes what happens), consequential (the decision affects something that matters to the person) and proximal (the decision affects the employee directly).
    — Tracy Brower, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of relevant
Noun
  • Officials will discuss strengthening Iran-Iraq relations, border security, economic cooperation and counterterrorism, among other topics, the broadcaster IRIB reported.
    — Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2026
  • To date, relations between First Tee and the neighborhood have been cordial, but the initial plan has not been well received.
    — Andy Sheehan, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of relation
Adjective
  • Target is emerging from more than a year of weak or declining comparable sales.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Putting all those aspects together, the country most comparable to Russia, both historically and in the contemporary moment, is not Turkey or Iran but the United States.
    — Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of comparable
Adjective
  • This Contest is subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
    — August 16, NPR, 16 Aug. 2026
  • The couple is announced and shares a dance, followed by mother/son and father/daughter dances, when applicable.
    — Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of applicable
Adjective
  • The Chiefs have long been the prototypical contender, the Steelers the paragon of the almost contenders … and the Jets, Browns and Raiders are usually in the third bucket.
    — Jacob Robinson, New York Times, 8 May 2026
  • That also means its almost time for clocks to fall back.
    — Dina Kaur, AZCentral.com, 25 Oct. 2025
Definition of almost

Browse Nearby Words

relationships
relative
relatively
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Relative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/relative. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on relative

Nglish: Translation of relative for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of prowess

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
alt-684346df967d5
Add A Letter Quiz Pick the letter that goes in the same spot in fou...
See All