RELINQUISH Synonyms: 56 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'relinquish' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of relinquish are abandon , resign , surrender , waive , and yield . While all these words mean "to give up completely," relinquish usually does not imply strong feeling but may suggest some regret, reluctance, or weakness. // relinquished her crown

Q: Where would 'abandon' be a reasonable alternative to 'relinquish'?

While the synonyms abandon and relinquish are close in meaning, abandon stresses finality and completeness in giving up. // abandoned all hope

Q: In what contexts can 'resign' take the place of 'relinquish'?

The synonyms resign and relinquish are sometimes interchangeable, but resign emphasizes voluntary relinquishment or sacrifice without struggle. // resigned her position

Q: When is 'surrender' a more appropriate choice than 'relinquish'?

In some situations, the words surrender and relinquish are roughly equivalent. However, surrender implies a giving up after a struggle to retain or resist. // surrendered their claims

Q: When can 'waive' be used instead of 'relinquish'?

The words waive and relinquish can be used in similar contexts, but waive implies conceding or forgoing with little or no compulsion. // waived the right to a trial by jury

Q: When could 'yield' be used to replace 'relinquish'?

Although the words yield and relinquish have much in common, yield implies concession or compliance or submission to force. // the troops yielded ground grudgingly

relinquish

verb

ri-ˈliŋ-kwish

Definition of relinquish next

as in to surrender

to give (something) over to the control or possession of another usually under duress the boy reluctantly relinquished the illegal fireworks to the police officer

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to abdicate

to give up (as a position of authority) formally the retiring CEO relinquished his position to the company's vice president with very mixed feelings

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word relinquish different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of relinquish are abandon, resign, surrender, waive, and yield. While all these words mean "to give up completely," relinquish usually does not imply strong feeling but may suggest some regret, reluctance, or weakness.

relinquished her crown

Where would abandon be a reasonable alternative to relinquish?

While the synonyms abandon and relinquish are close in meaning, abandon stresses finality and completeness in giving up.

abandoned all hope

In what contexts can resign take the place of relinquish?

The synonyms resign and relinquish are sometimes interchangeable, but resign emphasizes voluntary relinquishment or sacrifice without struggle.

resigned her position

When is surrender a more appropriate choice than relinquish?

In some situations, the words surrender and relinquish are roughly equivalent. However, surrender implies a giving up after a struggle to retain or resist.

surrendered their claims

When can waive be used instead of relinquish?

The words waive and relinquish can be used in similar contexts, but waive implies conceding or forgoing with little or no compulsion.

waived the right to a trial by jury

When could yield be used to replace relinquish?

Although the words yield and relinquish have much in common, yield implies concession or compliance or submission to force.

the troops yielded ground grudgingly

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of relinquish Snow and ice across the U.S. South are expected to relinquish their grip only slowly as the weekend continues. —

CBS News, 11 Jan. 2025 The pan-European Stoxx 600 index lost 0.19%, relinquishing earlier gains after flash data by the European Commission showed that EU economic sentiment indicator had dropped 1.7 points in December. —

Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 9 Jan. 2025 Then, leases sold in the 2021 auction were forfeited, relinquished, or canceled by the Biden administration. —

Lisa Friedman, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2025 Upon the sale, her daughter Angela took on the role of president, eventually relinquishing the creative director title. —

Luisa Zargani, WWD, 2 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for relinquish

Recent Examples of Synonyms for relinquish

Verb

After eventually dropping the knife, the man refused orders to surrender, so officers tackled and restrained him, police said.

— Don Sweeney, Sacramento Bee, 21 Jan. 2025
In just his third career start, Johnson struggled in coverage, surrendering nine receptions for 103 yards, including a touchdown, on 12 targets as the nearest defender, according to Pro Football Focus.

— Nate Taylor, The Athletic, 21 Jan. 2025