relentless
Americanadjective
-
(of an enemy, hostile attitude, etc) implacable; inflexible; inexorable
-
(of pace or intensity) sustained; unremitting
Synonym Usage
See inflexible.
Other Word Forms
Derived 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.
U.S. stocks look set to resume their relentless tech-led rally again Tuesday, with new listing plans from OpenAI, renewed focus on Apple’s latest drive into the new technology, and a sharp rebound in chip stocks.
From Barron's • Jun. 9, 2026
A relentless experimenter, Ilaiyaraaja could blend Carnatic ragas, Indian folk melodies and the music of Schubert or Mozart into a single composition.
From BBC • Jun. 6, 2026
Mills, in an interview, says he knew the job would mean relentless scrutiny from customers, power industry executives, lawmakers and regulators.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026
This relentless demand has been behind the dramatic earnings revisions, outlined by Moe in a report he and his Asian strategy team published Wednesday.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 3, 2026
With this relentless schedule my swimming, if I could call it that, soon improved enough to join properly in the work, or at least assist the others in doing it.
From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo
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.
