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relent
[ ri-lent ]
verb (used without object)
- to soften in feeling, temper, or determination; become more mild, compassionate, or forgiving.
- to become less severe; slacken:
The winds relented.
verb (used with object)
- Obsolete. to cause to soften in feeling, temper, or determination.
- Obsolete. to cause to slacken; abate.
- Obsolete. to abandon; relinquish.
relent
/ rɪˈlɛnt /
verb
- to change one's mind about some decided course, esp a harsh one; become more mild or amenable
- (of the pace or intensity of something) to slacken
- (of the weather) to become more mild
Other Words From
- re·lenting·ly adverb
- nonre·lenting adjective
- unre·lented adjective
Word History and Origins
Word History and Origins
Origin of relent1
Example Sentences
Cruz’s office declined for many hours to confirm the trip, eventually relenting when the senator decided to come home Thursday afternoon.
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.
A dry weekend offers relief, but cold temperatures do not relent.
The council passed a measure that encouraged the song’s playing before sporting events, and Ehlers relented.
Express forecastForecast in detailAn unsettled, wintry weather regime took hold in late January and shows no sign of relenting this week.
She begged their father to contact him, refusing to relent until he sent an inquiring telegram.
Only then does Trudy relent, saying that he should get an apartment in Manhattan.
Then, in 1937, in a 5–4 decision, the Justices began to relent.
By early Wednesday morning, Abedin had returned, but Weiner sent no signals to Washington that he was ready to relent.
And the senate, pressured by businesses, is in no mood to relent.
Pultusk and Eylau bore witness to his bravery and address on the battlefield, and Napoleon began to relent.
Anyway she has refused—and will, I fancy, never relent—to allow any extreme idea of food shortage to disturb her routine.
Fate had been fickle and cold so long; but now, when her smile was worse than a frown, she could easily relent.
But the King would neither give him release, nor relent towards the Americans.
The idea struck me that if I were to attack Monsieur Roberge on his weak point, he might relent.
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