1
as in surrendered
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
2
as in resigned
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
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 relinquished
Turn back the tape just a few weeks ago, to when the Five Stripes relinquished a 1-0 advantage in the final stretch to lose at home 2-1.
—
Amna Subhan, AJC.com, 10 May 2026
More than 75 other nurses with Operation Nightingale school diplomas relinquished their Florida credentials, the health department said in its April 22 email in response to the Sentinel’s questions.
—Annie Martin, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 May 2026
The defending world champions — who have the Lakers in the blender at present — were built largely through that trade, in which the Clippers relinquished their first-round pick in 2022, 2024, 2026 plus pick swap rights in 2023 and 2025.
—Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2026
The Pistons took the lead in the first quarter and never relinquished it, surviving a second-half charge by the Cavs.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 6 May 2026
The Royals took a 7-6 lead and never relinquished it.
—Jaylon Thompson
may 2, Kansas City Star, 2 May 2026
In April, two babies were relinquished at Connecticut hospitals under the state’s Safe Havens Act, according to the state Department of Children and Families.
—Mikayla Bunnell, Hartford Courant, 30 Apr. 2026
The dealer, who purchased it at some point from an Italian dealer, voluntarily relinquished the urn to the FBI, who gave it back to the Italian Ministry of Culture.
—Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 30 Apr. 2026
This suggests that Bronze Age individuals relinquished pieces of their wealth as a sacred offering.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 25 Apr. 2026
Amna Subhan, AJC.com, 10 May 2026
More than 75 other nurses with Operation Nightingale school diplomas relinquished their Florida credentials, the health department said in its April 22 email in response to the Sentinel’s questions.
—Annie Martin, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 May 2026
The defending world champions — who have the Lakers in the blender at present — were built largely through that trade, in which the Clippers relinquished their first-round pick in 2022, 2024, 2026 plus pick swap rights in 2023 and 2025.
—Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2026
The Pistons took the lead in the first quarter and never relinquished it, surviving a second-half charge by the Cavs.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 6 May 2026
The Royals took a 7-6 lead and never relinquished it.
—Jaylon Thompson
may 2, Kansas City Star, 2 May 2026
In April, two babies were relinquished at Connecticut hospitals under the state’s Safe Havens Act, according to the state Department of Children and Families.
—Mikayla Bunnell, Hartford Courant, 30 Apr. 2026
The dealer, who purchased it at some point from an Italian dealer, voluntarily relinquished the urn to the FBI, who gave it back to the Italian Ministry of Culture.
—Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 30 Apr. 2026
This suggests that Bronze Age individuals relinquished pieces of their wealth as a sacred offering.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 25 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for relinquished
Verb
-
And surrendered two goals or fewer in five of them.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
10 May 2026
-
He was replaced by Mackenzie Blackwood after Wedgewood surrendered three goals on a dozen shots.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
The kind of storm leaving Maxey resigned to the very idea of defeat before the halftime break.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
9 May 2026
-
One of them was Varga, who resigned from parliament in disgrace.—
Andrew Marantz,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026
Verb
-
Each wavy stripe is rendered in beige leather, as well as the toe-tip.—
Ian Servantes,
Footwear News,
7 May 2026
-
The 53-year-old coach does not want to see the regular season be rendered meaningless.—
Ryan Canfield,
FOXNews.com,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
In 2019, Japan’s 85-year-old Emperor Akihito abdicated his throne, ending his three-decade reign; his son Crown Prince Naruhito ascended to the Chrysanthemum Throne.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
-
That was on clear display over the past week, when legislators abdicated their authority over congressional redistricting to the governor.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The candidate has become accustomed to comical mailroom interactions with his neighbors, who are routinely delivered fliers emblazoned with his face.—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus,
New Yorker,
7 May 2026
-
Moreover, the flexible tandem cells also delivered strong results.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
Philip Fong | Afp | Getty Images Japan renounced war under Article 9 of its post-World War II pacifist constitution.—
Sam Meredith,Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
21 Apr. 2026
-
President Ahmed al-Sharaa is a one-time al-Qaeda commander who renounced the ideology before taking power.—
Jane Arraf,
NPR,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
For example, Congress has routinely failed to pass an annual budget on time and instead relies on continuing resolutions, has ceded its war powers responsibilities and has conducted insufficient oversight of the executive branch.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
-
Leavitt quickly ceded the mic to Colin Jost‘s Pete Hegseth.—
William Earl,
Variety,
3 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Relinquished.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/relinquished. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
