Relentless
/rɪˈlɛntləs/
adjectiveB2
Definition
Relentless describes something or someone that continues without stopping or becoming less strong. It often shows strong effort, pressure, or action that does not slow down or stop, even when it is difficult.
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See It in Action
Continuing without stopping or weakening
- •The relentless rain made the streets flood.
- •She showed relentless determination to finish the project.
- •The team's relentless effort won them the championship.
Showing strong and constant pressure or force
- •The relentless heat made it hard to work outside.
- •He faced relentless criticism but kept going.
- •The relentless noise from the construction disturbed the neighbors.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "relentless" like "strong" or "hard" but with the meaning of never stopping or giving up
- ✓Picture a rain that keeps falling without pause, never stopping day or night
- ✓It’s the feeling when someone keeps trying again and again, no matter how hard it is
- ✓Sounds like "real-ENT-less" → imagine a person with real energy who never lets go or stops
- ✓Think of a runner who keeps running in a race without resting, always moving forward
- ✓NOT like "sometimes" or "occasional" which happen only now and then; relentless means all the time
- ✓NOT like "gentle" or "soft" — relentless is strong and persistent, not calm or easy
- ✓NOT like "giving up" or "stopping" — relentless means continuing without stopping
Try Other Words
- •Persistent: continuing firmly without stopping (Use when the focus is on steady effort or action over time)
- •Unrelenting: not becoming less strong or less severe (Use as a direct synonym, often more formal)
- •Incessant: never stopping, especially for something annoying (Use when emphasizing something unpleasant that does not stop)
- •Constant: happening all the time (Use when something happens regularly or without breaks)
Unboxing
- •Prefix: "re-" (again, back) + root: "lent" (from Latin "lentus," meaning slow or flexible) + suffix: "-less" (without)
- •Etymology: From Latin "relentare" meaning to soften or slacken; "relentless" means without softening or stopping
- •Historical development: Originally meant not softening or becoming less; now means continuing strongly without stopping
- •Modern usage: Used to describe people, actions, or forces that do not stop or give up, often with strong intensity
Reflect & Connect
•Can being relentless be a good quality in all situations, or can it sometimes cause problems?
•How do you feel when you face relentless challenges or pressures in your own life?
Fill in the blanks
1.The relentless wind ___ the trees all night without any pause.
2.Her relentless ___ helped her finish the difficult task on time.
3.Unlike a gentle rain, relentless rain keeps falling and makes everything ___.
4.When someone is relentless, they do not ___ even if things get hard.
5.The team’s relentless ___ led them to win the game after many tries.
6.Relentless noise can make people feel ___ and tired.
7.If pressure is relentless, it usually does not ___ or become easier over time.