relent
/ɹɪˈlɛnt/
Group 25Difficulty 1/3
Definition
- (verb)
- To abandon or mitigate a harsh intention or cruel treatment; to become less severe or intense GRE
Example in Context
After days of public pressure, the university finally relented and reversed the decision to close the community health clinic.
Synonyms
give insoftenyield
Etymology
To soften or back off from a harsh stance.
- re- (Latin) — back
- lenire (Latin) — to soften
Memory Aid
🕊️Sounds like “re-lent”
Imagine a strict teacher finally RELENTING and giving all her students a free day — they cheer and dance!
Visual Association
🌦️A fierce storm suddenly clearing, revealing a bright rainbow — a sign of softened weather.
Semantic Clusters
Synonym Groups
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “relent” mean on the GRE?
relent (verb) means “To abandon or mitigate a harsh intention or cruel treatment; to become less severe or intense”. After days of public pressure, the university finally relented and reversed the decision to close the community health clinic.
How to remember “relent” for the GRE?
Mnemonic: “relent” sounds like “re-lent”. Imagine a strict teacher finally RELENTING and giving all her students a free day — they cheer and dance!
What are synonyms for “relent”?
Common synonyms: give in, soften, yield.