relent out of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "relent out of" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It is not a standard expression and may confuse readers, as "relent" typically does not pair with "out of" in common usage. Example: "After much consideration, she decided to relent out of compassion for her friend."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Why don't you produce and I'll write and you'll get all the glory?' " Mr. Minghella did eventually relent, out of a sense of obligation to the book's author.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Emma eventually relented out of fear of her ex-husband, who had been abusive toward her in the past.

The New Yorker

The congressional Republicans quashed nearly all legislation as a matter of principle and shut down the government for sixteen days, before relenting out of sheer tactical confusion and embarrassment — and yet it was the President's miseries that dominated the year-end summations.

The New Yorker

However, when Otto tells her that he wants to pass so he can "staple his licence to Homer Simpson's Big Bald Head", she relents out of spite for her brother-in-law.

Wikipedia

Later she relents with Ben, but they sink out of sight along with the sunset.

The New York Times

And yet relenting seems out of the question.

The New Yorker

He relents, tapping out under the strain of Rich's hold.

Vice

According to the Gospel writer, Jesus tells a parable about a judge, "who neither feared God nor had respect for people," but who ultimately relented, after being worn out because of the widow's persistent pleading.

Huffington Post

You can't simply relent and walk back out of the room.

The New Yorker

Gresham defended Landis, stating that Cleveland would have to fire both of them, and the President relented, later finding out that he was mistaken in accusing Landis.

Wikipedia

He later relented and sought out Jackson for permission.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Context is key: consider what kind of yielding you're describing. Try "give in due to" for a complete surrender, or "soften due to" for a change in attitude.

Common error

A common error is to directly translate the intended meaning of yielding into the phrase "relent out of", assuming it's a standard construction. However, "relent" typically doesn't pair with "out of" in common usage. For example, instead of saying "She relented out of pity", use "She relented, moved by pity" or "She gave in due to pity".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "relent out of" functions as a verb phrase, attempting to indicate a cause or reason for yielding. However, Ludwig AI identifies it as not a standard or grammatically recommended construction. Instead, it is a non-idiomatic phrase attempting to show the motivation behind someone's change of mind or action.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "relent out of" is considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI marks it as an unusual and potentially confusing construction. While its intended meaning is to convey a reason for yielding, it's advisable to use more standard alternatives such as "give in due to" or "yield because of". These options ensure clarity and grammatical correctness in your writing. Although examples exist, their limited number and the grammatical issues suggest avoiding "relent out of" in formal contexts. Remember that while individual words may be used in many authoritative publications, the specific combination of these words, like "relent out of", may be considered ungrammatical.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

give in due to

Replaces "relent" with "give in" and "out of" with "due to", creating a more common and grammatically sound causal phrase.

yield because of

Substitutes "relent" with "yield" and "out of" with "because of", offering a more formal and grammatically correct alternative.

capitulate due to

Uses "capitulate" instead of "relent", emphasizing a more complete surrender, and "due to" instead of "out of".

acquiesce because of

Replaces "relent" with "acquiesce", suggesting reluctant agreement, and "out of" with "because of".

soften due to

Uses "soften" to imply a change in attitude, replaced "relent" with "soften", suggesting a less complete surrender, and "out of" with "due to".

back down because of

Suggests withdrawing from a position due to a cause.

change mind because of

Replaced "relent" and "out of" offering a broader description of altering a decision.

cave in due to

Emphasizes succumbing to pressure because of something.

succumb because of

Uses "succumb" to highlight yielding to an influence.

defer because of

Implies yielding to someone else's wishes or judgment due to a reason.

FAQs

Is "relent out of" grammatically correct?

No, the phrase "relent out of" is not a standard or grammatically correct English construction. It's better to use phrases like "give in due to" or "yield because of" to express a similar meaning.

What's a better way to say someone "relented out of" compassion?

Instead of "relented out of compassion", you can say "relented, moved by compassion", or use phrases such as "gave in due to" compassion, or "yielded because of" compassion.

How can I use the word "relent" correctly in a sentence?

Use "relent" on its own to mean to abandon or mitigate a harsh intention or cruel treatment. For example: "The storm finally relented after days of heavy rain." You can also say, "He relented and allowed them to leave."

Are there situations where "relent out of" might be acceptable?

While not grammatically standard, you might encounter "relent out of" in informal contexts or where the speaker is not a native English speaker. However, for clear and effective communication, it is recommended to use alternatives like "give in due to" or "yield because of".