relented

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "relented" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when someone agrees to something, usually after previous opposition or reluctance. For example, "After much arguing, the boss finally relented and allowed us to leave work early."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In Kaduna state, where the vaccine was banned last year, officials relented on Monday and allowed the programme to go ahead.

The Guardian

The Northern Land Council, which made the nomination, relented amid a challenge in the federal court.

The Guardian

Pyne ultimately relented, agreeing to provide the previously budgeted $150m to continue NCRIS for another year after 30 June 2015.

The Guardian

Thankfully he relented when he heard my breath on his shoulder once more and we settled into a friendlier pace – chatting occasionally – bemoaning the high sun and long straight roads lined with cypress trees but devoid of shade, which reminded me of hot summers in Italy.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Godiya pleaded with her own father for four days before he relented and agreed his younger daughter could return to school.

The Guardian

Beckett had form when it came to not allowing the reprinting of early works, but in the cases of Mercier and Camier (in prose, but Godot in utero) and "First Love" he relented; his highly protective estate let through, eventually, the pre‑Godot play Eleutheria and the 1932 novel Dream of Fair to Middling Women; but not "Echo's Bones", until now.

The Guardian - Books

Syria initially refused to grant Amos access to the country but relented after its allies Russia and China joined the rest of the UN security council in rebuking it.

The Guardian

The mountain town of Boulder initially decided on a local ban on the sale of marijuana for recreational use despite the town having several medical dispensaries, but has since relented.

The Guardian

See articleCroatia relented and said it would fully comply with the European Union's extradition law, after it was threatened with legal action for changing its domestic extradition rules just days before joining the EU on July 1st.

The Economist

"As usual, the western media are trying to distort the truth and make it appear as though Iran relented," complained the Iran News.

The Economist

Siemens has shifted new labour-intensive production abroad, to India, China or Romania, although it relented in 2004 when it gave mobile-phone production to two plants in North Rhine-Westphalia rather than in Hungary.This decision was part of a landmark deal with IG Metall, Germany's biggest blue-collar union, which extended the working week at those plants from 35 hours to 40.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "relented" to indicate a change of heart or decision, particularly after a period of resistance or refusal. It suggests a degree of unwillingness or reluctance.

Common error

Avoid using "relented" when describing initial agreement or consent. This term is best suited for situations where there was prior disagreement or opposition that was eventually overcome.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "relented" is as a verb, specifically the past tense of the verb 'to relent'. It indicates an action of yielding or softening, often after initial resistance. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is correctly used to denote a change of mind or a yielding to pressure.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "relented" is a versatile verb indicating a change of heart after resistance, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It is grammatically correct and commonly found in diverse contexts, including news, business, and general communication. While "relented" appears most frequently in news and media, its application extends to various registers, making it a valuable term to describe yielding or softening of stance. Remember to use "relented" when there's an actual change of heart, not for initial agreements.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

gave in

Implies a complete surrender or yielding to pressure.

yielded

Suggests a formal or reluctant agreement.

acquiesced

Indicates passive agreement or acceptance without protest.

conceded

Implies admitting defeat or acknowledging the validity of an opposing viewpoint.

succumbed

Suggests giving way to a stronger force or temptation.

complied

Indicates obedience or adherence to a request or order.

capitulated

Implies surrendering on agreed terms or conditions.

deferred

Suggests yielding to another's judgment or authority.

bent

Implies altering one's course of action under pressure.

caved

Suggests collapsing under pressure, often used informally.

FAQs

How to use "relented" in a sentence?

"Relented" implies someone has yielded after initially refusing. For example, "After much pleading, my parents finally "relented" and let me go to the party."

What can I say instead of "relented"?

You can use alternatives like "gave in", "yielded", or "acquiesced" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "relented" or "retreated"?

"Relented" implies yielding after resistance, while "retreated" suggests withdrawing from a position. The correct choice depends on whether the subject changed their mind or physically withdrew.

What's the difference between "relented" and "agreed"?

"Agreed" indicates simple consent, while "relented" suggests initial unwillingness that was eventually overcome. "Relented" carries a connotation of prior resistance.