relent

UK: /rɪˈlɛnt/ US: /rɪˈlɛnt/ ,(ri lent′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

re•lent /rɪˈlɛnt/   v. [no object]

1. to soften in one's feeling, temper, or determination;
   become more mild, compassionate, or forgiving:
   At last he relented and forgave them.
2. to become less severe;
   slacken:
   The hurricane finally relented.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

re•lent  (ri lent′), v.i. 

1. to soften in feeling, temper, or determination;
   become more mild, compassionate, or forgiving.
2. to become less severe;
   slacken:
   The winds relented.

v.t. 

3. [Obs.] to cause to soften in feeling, temper, or determination.
4. [Obs.] to cause to slacken;
   abate.
5. [Obs.] to abandon;
   relinquish.

• Medieval Latin *relentāre, equivalent. to Latin re- re- + lentāre to bend, derivative of lentus flexible, viscous, slow
• Middle English 1350–1400

re•lent′ing•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 1. bend, yield.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

relent / rɪˈlɛnt/ verb (intransitive)

1. to change one's mind about some decided course, esp a harsh one; become more mild or amenable
2. (of the pace or intensity of something) to slacken
3. (of the weather) to become more mild

Etymology: 14th Century: from re- + Latin lentāre to bend, from lentus flexible, tenacious