relentless

American

[ri-lent-lis] / rɪˈlɛnt lɪs /

adjective

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

a relentless barrage of bad news.
unyieldingly severe, strict, or harsh.

a relentless crackdown on human rights.

Synonyms:

unyielding, adamant, obdurate, unbending, rigid

Antonyms:

merciful

relentless British

/ rɪˈlɛntlɪs /

adjective

(of an enemy, hostile attitude, etc) implacable; inflexible; inexorable
(of pace or intensity) sustained; unremitting

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Related Words

See inflexible.

Other Word Forms

relentlessly adverb
relentlessness noun

Etymology

Origin of relentless

First recorded in 1585–95; relent + -less

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.

In the Chicago of my youth, a borax man was an especially slick salesman, aggressive and relentless, usually specializing in home-improvement products.

From The Wall Street Journal

This was not a collapse caused by Bazballing batting, rather a fold in the face of relentless Australia bowling.

From BBC

“Every season, every game—just a relentless focus.”

From The Wall Street Journal

The battle is the latest chapter in a decadeslong contest among secretive ultrafast trading firms, which have pursued a relentless quest for minuscule speed advantages.

From The Wall Street Journal

That means attacking, staying on the front foot, being aggressive, relentless and tireless.

From Los Angeles Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023