relentless

[ri-lent-lis]

adjective

1. not easing or slackening; maintaining speed, vigor, etc..

   a relentless barrage of bad news.

2. unyieldingly severe, strict, or harsh.

   a relentless crackdown on human rights.

   Synonyms: unyielding, adamant, obdurate, unbending, rigid
   Antonyms: merciful

relentless

/ rɪˈlɛntlɪs /

adjective

1. (of an enemy, hostile attitude, etc) implacable; inflexible; inexorable

2. (of pace or intensity) sustained; unremitting

Other Word Forms

• relentlessly adverb
• relentlessness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of relentless¹

First recorded in 1585–95; relent + -less

Synonym Study

See inflexible.

Example Sentences

Technically, the top league in Europe is relentless and, as Leeds found on Sunday against Villa, unforgiving.

Read more on BBC

But as resistant as Didi is to Cliff’s relentless wisecrackery—and despite her awareness that there are an age gap and a fiancée in the way—she eventually melts.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

We were impressed with its seamless reaction and relentless forward motion when driving it on dirt paths in hilly terrain.

Read more on MarketWatch

The audience anticipates the frightening future that awaits these journalists, which makes their relentless advocacy all the more moving.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

She’s relentless in pursuing this job that she wants that doesn’t want her.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• determined 
• dogged 
• ferocious 
• fierce 
• harsh 
• implacable 
• inexorable 
• rigorous 
• ruthless 
• single-minded 
• uncompromising 
• unforgiving 
• unrelenting 
• unstoppable 
• unyielding