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relentless

relentless

129 5.1
Keeps going without stopping and stays very strong
  • adjective
  • /rɪˈlɛntləs/
: implacable
  • For these few minutes, nothing mattered except Cy and her relentless love for him.
  • relentless pursuit
  • relentless efforts
  • relentless pressure

It was just, you know, relentless work, relentless pursuit.

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Examples

  • Academics give relentless effort, focus on execution.

  • The print media has been relentless in criticizing both existing institutions and the political class.

    Academic text (1991)
  • So, and, and there was just this relentless push to get better.

  • Well, that relentless piece is where this one degree of change comes in.

  • So this is a slow but relentless breakdown process.

  • This story at the very least, warrants relentless investigation.

  • I was relentless in focusing on what wasn't working.

  • You will hold your curled head high and continue your relentless pursuit of lost youth.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • And despite a relentless media barrage, the other side remains convinced there was widespread election fraud.

  • The relentless rain continued throughout the night, soaking everything in its path.

Synonyms

constant
vsrelentless
525 2.5

Happens all the time without stopping

is stronger in force and harshness rather than simple steadiness
sustained
vsrelentless
109 3.9

Lasting a long time without stopping or getting weaker

highlights severe ongoing intensity rather than merely maintained duration
persistent
vsrelentless
95 4.9

Lasting for a long time and not stopping easily

is more severe or intense rather than only long continued effort
perpetual
vsrelentless
87 5.8

Lasting for a very long time without stopping

emphasizes severe force or pressure rather than only endless duration
unforgiving
vsrelentless
36 5.8

Not willing to forgive someone and acting without mercy

is about continuous pressure or continuing force rather than moral judgment
nonstop
vsrelentless
34 1.3

Continuing without any stops or pauses

suggests greater severity and intensity rather than simply no breaks
unrelenting
vsrelentless
32 7.0

Not stopping and not getting less strong

is the adjective often used to stress continuous intensity
incessant
vsrelentless
29 6.3

Happening all the time without stopping

carries more forceful, severe meaning rather than just continuous occurrence
unending
vsrelentless
27 4.1

Lasting a long time without stopping

adds strong, severe intensity beyond mere endless continuation
unwavering
vsrelentless
24 5.8

Being firm in belief or support that does not change

is more about strong intensity and severity rather than steady support
dogged
vsrelentless
17 4.7

Being very determined and refusing to give up

is harsher and more intense rather than just stubborn effort
interminable
vsrelentless
13 7.5

Lasting a very long time and making you bored or annoyed

focuses more on harsh ongoing pressure rather than boring length
inexorable
vsrelentless
  • Formal
11 8.6

Impossible to stop or change

is firm and intense but can sometimes be stopped or changed
ceaseless
vsrelentless
10 4.9

Not stopping or pausing for a long time

focuses more on harsh intensity than simply continuous motion
implacable
vsrelentless
  • Formal
9 8.6

Not able to be calmed and showing firm, unchanging anger or opposition

is general ongoing force or severity rather than only hostile resistance
indefatigable
vsrelentless
  • Formal
5 9.3

Always continuing to work without becoming tired

is about continuous intensity and harshness rather than just energy
unceasing
vsrelentless
5 6.0

Continuing without stopping

adds severity and determination beyond only having no breaks
unflagging
vsrelentless
3 7.5

Always having energy and not giving up

focuses more on pressure and severity rather than only tirelessness

Antonyms

2 4.8

Willing to agree easily and give up their own view

Idioms

Very determined and unwilling to give up when trying to reach a goal

How Persistent

relentless
129 5.1
incessant
29 6.3
persistent
95 4.9
steady
327 2.0
occasional
257 2.8

Surface Forms

relentless positive
relentlesser comparative
relentlessest superlative

Morphology

relentless = relent (opaque) = re + lent + less

The word 'relentless' is derived from 'relent' with the suffix '-less', but the meaning has shifted to imply persistence rather than the absence of relenting.

Etymology

Relentless comes from the verb relent, which meant 'to become less harsh' and is related to the same root as lenient ('gentle'), plus the ending -less meaning 'without'. So relentless literally means 'without becoming gentle', which is why it describes something that never stops or becomes less strong.