relents

Relents is the third-person singular present tense of the verb relent. To relent means to become less severe or strict, to yield to pressure or appeal, to soften in one’s attitude or stance, or to subside, as a storm or other condition. As a result, relents is used when the subject is singular (he, she, it) or a singular noun, for example: "The judge relents and grants clemency" or "The storm relents after noon."

The verb can describe changes in rules, policies, or attitudes that have previously been firm. It often implies a careful, partial, or temporary concession rather than a complete reversal. In addition to people, organizations and governments may relent in response to negotiation, advocacy, or shifting circumstances, and weather or events may relent as conditions improve.

Etymology and forms: Relent derives from Middle English relenten, from Old French relenter; the exact roots are unclear. Related forms include the base form relent, the past tense relented, and the present participle relenting.

Usage notes: Relent is common in formal writing and journalism as well as everyday speech. It connotes a move away from rigidity rather than an outright surrender, differing from words like concede or capitulate in nuance. Synonyms include yield, concede, soften, and compromise, while antonyms include harden and persist.