relentless
Americanadjective
-
(of an enemy, hostile attitude, etc) implacable; inflexible; inexorable
-
(of pace or intensity) sustained; unremitting
Related Words
See inflexible.
Other Word Forms
- relentlessly adverb
- relentlessness noun
Etymology
Origin of relentless
Explanation
Relentless is a good word for describing something that's harsh, unforgiving, and persistent, like the hot sun in the desert, or a cold that keeps you in bed for days with a nose like a strawberry. When you're relentless about something, you mean business. You're not stopping until you get what you want, and you're not taking "no" for an answer. People might try to steer you from your goal, but you have eyes only for the prize and they're just going to have to get out of your way. If you're a relentless student, for instance, you might stay up all night studying your vocabulary, just in case there might be a quiz in the morning.
Vocabulary lists containing relentless
The Giver
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
A Long Walk to Water
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Power Suffix: -less
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Those hours have been at a premium during a relentless campaign this time around.
From BBC • Apr. 12, 2026
Kaczmarek said that Cranston was relentless: “He would tell me, ‘I really want to get us back together again.’
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026
Mr. Magnussen’s performance, indelible and relentless, will define the warped values of a Musky-Zuck era for those inclined to hate it anyway.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026
The disorder causes constant, relentless hunger through hypothalamic dysfunction, where the brain fails to register fullness, often leading to life-threatening obesity.
From Barron's • Apr. 6, 2026
Cleaning out the wound channel hadn't stopped the body’s relentless release of pus.
From "Ambushed!" by Gail Jarrow
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
