Standard Lemma guide

relentlessness

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /ɹɪˈlɛntləsnəs/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The condition of being relentless.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

mercilessness characterized by an unwillingness to relent or let up

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the relentlessness or their pursuit

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: inexorability, inexorableness

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: mercilessness, unmercifulness

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English relentless Proto-Germanic *-inōną Proto-Indo-European *-dyé- Proto-Germanic *-atjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *-assuz Proto-Germanic *-inassuz Proto-West Germanic *-nassī Old English -nes Middle English -nesse English -ness English relentlessness From relentless + -ness.

Across languages

Translations

12 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 堅持不懈 /坚持不懈 (jiānchíbùxiè) — condition of being relentless
  • Dutch: vasthoudendheid — condition of being relentless
  • Finnish: periksiantamattomuus — condition of being relentless
  • Finnish: säälimättömyys — condition of being relentless
  • Finnish: heltymättömyys — condition of being relentless
  • French: acharnement — condition of being relentless
  • German: Unnachgiebigkeit — condition of being relentless
  • German: Unerbittlichkeit — condition of being relentless
  • Irish: aindiúid — condition of being relentless
  • Norwegian Bokmål: uforsonlighet — condition of being relentless
  • Polish: bezustanność — condition of being relentless
  • Romanian: inexorabilitate — condition of being relentless