relent

[US]/rɪˈlent/
[UK]/rɪˈlent/
Frequency: Very High

Translation

vi. soften, weaken, ease
vt. make less harsh, alleviate
Word Forms
Past Participlerelented
Third Person Singularrelents
Pluralrelents
Past Tenserelented
Present Participlerelenting

Example Sentences

She'll relent; she's -ming.

At first she threatened to dismiss me, but later she relented.

he dialled the number and, the gods relenting, got through at once.

she relented in her determined inquisition and offered help.

an inflexible knife blade); figuratively they describe what does not relent or yield:

She refused to relent in her pursuit of justice.

The storm showed no signs of relenting.

The teacher would not relent until all the students understood the concept.

Despite the criticism, he did not relent in his efforts to improve.

The company's competitors never relent in their pursuit of market dominance.

The pain in his knee would not relent, no matter how much he rested.

The government must not relent in its fight against corruption.

She refused to relent and continued to push for change.

The team's determination did not relent even after facing multiple setbacks.

His resolve to succeed did not relent despite the challenges he faced.

Real-world Examples

He seems to relent a moment at their pleading.

Source: New Concept English: Vocabulary On-the-Go, Book Three.

I blink at him, unsure what to say, and I think he takes pity on me because he relents.

Source: Fifty Shades of Grey (Audiobook Excerpt)

But Frank was determined and finally Dorsey relented.

Source: Biography of Famous Historical Figures

Protesting relatives say they will not relent until authorities free their loved ones from their captors.

Source: VOA Daily Standard August 2022 Collection

As sometimes happen in these cases, her employers eventually relented and she was free.

Source: CNN 10 Student English February 2018 Collection

This opens a pathway for the Fed to relent, hopefully guiding America to a much-discussed soft landing.

Source: The Economist (Summary)

" Of course it is Saturday night, Peter, " Wendy said, relenting.

Source: Peter Pan

They refused at first to let him be flown to Berlin, but later relented.

Source: PBS English News

" Oh, all right, come in, then, come in, " said Slughorn, relenting.

Source: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

She only relented a few months later when my parents promised that I would go to college.

Source: Steve Jobs' speech

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