relent

Meaning

Noun

1. Stay; stop; delay.
2. (obsolete) A relenting.

Verb

1. To give in or be swayed; to become less hard, harsh, or cruel; to show clemency.
2. To slacken; to abate.
3. (obsolete) To lessen, make less severe or intense.
4. To become less rigid or hard; to soften; to yield, for example by dissolving or melting

Adj

softhearted; yielding

Synonyms

yield

soften

give in

submit

pity

show mercy

forgive

commiserate

give

unbend

climb down

comfort

compassionate

comply

concede

condone

ebb

exculpate

excuse

fall back

flex

forbear

give way to

knuckle under

lenient

let off

loosen

mollified

moved

pardon

placate

recede

relax

remit

retreat

sag

slacken

smooth

soothe

subside

suffer

temper

make a concession

touched

be moderate

defer to

have a change of heart

abate

subduce

accede

back down

be sorry

blench

bow

🙇

buckle

capitulate

cave in

cede

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ɹɪˈlɛnt/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: relenten

In summary

From Middle English relenten, from Anglo-Norman relentir, from Latin re- + lentare (“to bend”), from lentus (“soft, pliant, slow”). Earliest recording dates to 1526.