relentless
American
adjective
-
(of an enemy, hostile attitude, etc) implacable; inflexible; inexorable
-
(of pace or intensity) sustained; unremitting
Synonym Usage
See inflexible.
Other Word Forms
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
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A Long Walk to Water
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Power Suffix: -less
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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.
Knowing that good positioning, overloads around the ball, and relentless off-the-ball running help Swansea disorganise defences, it is likely the dynamic and roaming full-backs that embody these qualities best.
From BBC ● Oct. 17, 2026
She said such countries needed to set spending targets such that they prioritised growth and protecting the most vulnerable people, adding that the Fund had a "relentless pursuit of more resources for low-income countries".
From Barron's ● Oct. 17, 2026
“They were relentless with everything that they did,” Dodgers infielder Max Muncy said of the Brewers.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026
In an era obsessed with the relentless pursuit of power, only one team hit fewer home runs than the Brewers this season.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026
It takes relentless, all-consuming training and untold personal sacrifices before any of the glory is seen.
From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
