relented

verb

past tense of relent
1
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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

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 relented But the agency later relented because of backlash from the pharmaceutical industry and public health experts. — Rob Stein, NPR, 6 Aug. 2026 But even as two or three of us lunged toward the rail in the hope of helping him, the lake relented. — James D. Oxley, Outdoor Life, 5 Aug. 2026 While temperatures have temporarily fallen, the overall heat hasn’t relented, as this Wednesday Japan’s Environment Ministry issued a heatstroke alert for most of western and southern Japan, per the Associated Press. — Frank Landymore, Futurism, 5 Aug. 2026 The president relented after Stitt intervened, though there is little to suggest that the relationship has recovered, raising the potential of another confrontation at the next NGA meeting, traditionally held February in Washington. — ABC News, 1 Aug. 2026 But after a top Justice Department official demanded this action, the Secret Service relented. — Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026 The White House later relented, giving Cassidy a one-on-one meeting, and the Louisiana Republican changed his vote in a late-night do-over vote before the Senate left for a two-week recess. — Mary Clare Jalonick, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2026 Cameron relented, taking out his scissors and cutting a few superfluous scenes, but the film still wasn't quite at the magic mark. — Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 19 July 2026 After a public backlash, Microsoft relented and vowed no such legal action would occur. — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 9 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for relented
  1. succumbed
  2. subsided
  3. conceded
  4. decreased
  5. submitted
  6. diminished
  7. surrendered
  8. fell
Verb
  • The aftermath In many ways, Crowdpac succumbed to the inevitable.
    — Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Lifesaving measures were performed on-site, but Rebecca Marodi succumbed to her injuries.
    — Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of succumbed
Verb
  • The emails from McDonnell promising incoming bank wires and new revenue streams subsided.
    — Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Gardeners in areas with mild winters can also get away with dividing and transplanting in the fall once the summer heat has subsided.
    — The Spruce, The Spruce, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of subsided
Verb
  • The service break Sabalenka conceded in the final game was her sixth.
    — Lukas Weese, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2026
  • South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has condemned any acts of violence against migrants but also conceded to government failures around enforcing immigration laws.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of conceded
Verb
  • Drought has led to decreased snowpack and water flowing into the river.
    — Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Crimes against society, including prostitution, drug and weapons offenses, decreased slightly, going from 278 incidents last year to 227 incidents so far this year.
    — Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of decreased
Verb
  • Two weeks later, a group of residents calling themselves the Hogg Hummock Community Ordinance Draft Coalition submitted an ordinance proposal.
    — Adam Van Brimmer, AJC.com, 8 Aug. 2026
  • During the post arrest investigation, the government submitted warrants for Lemon’s YouTube subscribers, which was rejected by a federal judge.
    — Luke Barr, ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of submitted
Verb
  • The influence and interest of the United States in the islands must be increased and not diminished.
    — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Then, there is the rise of China, which has shifted Washington’s strategic focus away from Europe and diminished NATO’s centrality to American concerns.
    — Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of diminished
Verb
  • The right-hander surrendered three runs on three hits in three innings.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Alejandro Hidalgo surrendered all five runs in the fifth after taking over for Rojas.
    — Pioneer Press, Twin Cities, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of surrendered
Verb
  • The return to form is all the more stunning given that book sales overall are barely rising, and Amazon, which nearly felled Barnes & Noble in the 2010s, is still a threat.
    — Phil Wahba, Fortune, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Each measures 500 square feet, with its walls, ceilings, and timber beams made from pine trees felled on site.
    — Madeline Bilis, Travel + Leisure, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of fell

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Cite this Entry

“Relented.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/relented. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of relented for Spanish Speakers

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