Etymology
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relentless (adj.)

"incapable of relenting, unmoved by pity, unpitying, insensible to the distress of others," 1590s, from relent + -less. Related: Relentlessly; relentlessness. Relenting is from 1590s as a present-participle adjective, "inclined to relent; too easily moved." For a noun for the group, relentment "act or state of relenting" (1620s) has been tried.

Entries linking to relentless

relent (v.)

late 14c., relenten, Anglo-French relenter, "to melt, soften in substance, dissolve," ultimately from re- in some sense + Latin lentus "slow, viscous, supple" (see lithe), perhaps on model of Old French rallentir, "but the immediate source is not clear" [OED]. Figurative sense of "become less harsh or cruel, soften in temper" is recorded from 1520s; the notion probably is of a hard heart melting with pity. Related: Relented; relenting.

-less 
word-forming element meaning "lacking, cannot be, does not," from Old English -leas, from leas "free (from), devoid (of), false, feigned," from Proto-Germanic *lausaz (cognates: Dutch -loos, German -los "-less," Old Norse lauss "loose, free, vacant, dissolute," Middle Dutch los, German los "loose, free," Gothic laus "empty, vain"), from PIE root *leu- "to loosen, divide, cut apart." Related to loose and lease.

updated on June 23, 2021

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Definitions of relentless from WordNet

relentless (adj.)
not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty;
relentless persecution
Synonyms: grim / inexorable / stern / unappeasable / unforgiving / unrelenting
relentless (adj.)
never-ceasing;
the relentless beat of the drums
Synonyms: persistent / unrelenting
From wordnet.princeton.edu, not affiliated with etymonline.

Dictionary entries near relentless

re-lay

release

relegate

relegation

relent

relentless

relevance

relevant

releve

reliability

reliable

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