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
- unrelentingly adverb
- unrelentingness noun
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.
Checchi, in particular, barraged voters with an unrelenting flood of ads.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2026
A daily unrelenting dread from which there is no sign of escape.
From BBC • Mar. 17, 2026
It is the latest commitment from the tech company as it seeks to cash in on unrelenting demand for artificial intelligence.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 3, 2026
Despite all the changes that have happened since 2003, including the rise of social media, citizen journalists, the decline of legacy media and an unrelenting news cycle, the same incentive structures have endured.
From Salon • Mar. 2, 2026
The spring equinox has just passed; they face six months of unrelenting night.
From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr
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.
