unrelenting
Americanadjective
-
not relenting; not yielding or swerving in determination or resolution, as of or from opinions, convictions, ambitions, ideals, etc.; inflexible.
an unrelenting opponent of the Equal Rights Amendment.
- Synonyms:
- remorseless, cruel, pitiless, ruthless, unmerciful, merciless, relentless
-
not easing or slackening in severity.
an unrelenting rain.
- Synonyms:
- inexorable, implacable, unremitting
-
maintaining speed, effort, vigor, intensity, rate of advance, etc..
an unrelenting attack.
adjective
-
refusing to relent or take pity; relentless; merciless
-
not diminishing in determination, speed, effort, force, etc
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of unrelenting
Explanation
Unrelenting is an adjective that describes someone or something that is not willing to give up, like a person who tries fifty different types of ice cream in pursuit of the perfect flavor. The word unrelenting usually describes a person who is stubborn and persistent in his efforts. An unrelenting person may also be unforgiving, such as a judge who will give the harshest sentence regardless of the sob story that the person on trial tells her. Unrelenting can also refer to non-human actions, like the unrelenting wind that finally led to a cancellation of your outdoor sailing competition or the unrelenting noise of the party that kept you awake all night.
Vocabulary lists containing unrelenting
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
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Esperanza Rising
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A Thousand Splendid Suns
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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.
Oil’s unrelenting rise is increasing the chances of a hawkish Fed surprise next week, he adds.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026
The saved water will remain in reservoirs, helping to slow their unrelenting decline.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026
Investors have poured money into exchange-traded funds at a rapid pace in the first half of 2026, demonstrating an unrelenting appetite for stocks associated with the AI theme.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 1, 2026
The heat was unrelenting, but there were some shoppers, pilgrims and tourists around - and the vendors said they'd set up shops in the hope of finding some customers.
From BBC ● Jun. 15, 2026
I might have discovered that in at least one instance the wheel had stopped, that in spite of all the unrelenting calculation, chance and luck had, at least once, changed something.
From "The Stranger" by Albert Camus
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.
