relentless

Language: en

🇺🇸 /rɪˈlɛntlɪs/

📖 Definitions

  1. adjective
    Unceasingly intense; not becoming less severe or harsh; continuing without pause or interruption.; Showing no pity or mercy; harsh and unforgiving in one's treatment of others.; Persistent and determined; refusing to give up or ease off in pursuit of a goal.; Constantly increasing or growing without any sign of slowing down.; Oppressively constant; unyielding in a way that causes exhaustion or despair.

🔗 Details

Word forms

Comparative: more relentless Superlative: most relentless

Collocations

relentless pursuitrelentless pressurerelentless driverelentless pacerelentless attackrelentless determination

Derivatives

relentlesslyrelentlessnessrelent

Synonyms

unrelentingincessantpersistentunyieldingimplacabletirelessunremitting

Antonyms

mercifullenientintermittentgentle

Commonly confused

ruthless
EN: 'Ruthless' implies cruelty and lack of compassion; 'relentless' implies unceasing persistence without necessarily implying cruelty.
unrelenting
EN: 'Unrelenting' is nearly synonymous but slightly more formal/literary; 'relentless' is more common in everyday usage.

Spelling tips

EN: Remember it is formed from 'relent' + '-less' (meaning 'without relenting'). Do not misspell as 'relentles' or confuse with 'reluctant' (unwilling).

💬 Examples

  1. The relentless heat of the summer sun made it impossible to work outdoors.

  2. The relentless dictator showed no compassion for his political opponents.

  3. Her relentless pursuit of justice eventually led to the overturning of the wrongful conviction.

  4. The relentless rise in housing prices has pushed many young families out of the city.

  5. The relentless noise from the construction site next door made it impossible to concentrate.