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
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Recent Examples of relinquished
Jakrajutatip also relinquished her roles at the Miss Universe Organization.
—
Theresa Braine, Mercury News, 30 Dec. 2025
Meanwhile, 81 animals have already been relinquished and are expected to become available for adoption through Sammie’s Friends at the Nevada County Animal Shelter once medically cleared.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 18 Dec. 2025
Ukraine has relinquished its ambition to join NATO in exchange for Western security guarantees, in an effort to end Russia’s war, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
—Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 15 Dec. 2025
She was first elected to the seat in 2018 and relinquished it this year to run in the mayoral race.
—Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 10 Dec. 2025
Individuals deemed to have relinquished citizenship under the law would be recorded as non-citizens in federal systems.
—Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Dec. 2025
In 2020, 85 animals were relinquished; in 2021, only 70 were given up.
—Erika I. Ritchie, Oc Register, 25 Nov. 2025
Charles reportedly relinquished some of his powers to his son because of his ailing health.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 18 Nov. 2025
Georgia Tech led 17-14 before the Wolfpack’s Cody Hardy scored his second touchdown of the first half, and NC State (5-4, 2-3) never relinquished the lead from there.
—Manny Navarro, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for relinquished
Verb
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Eventually, his parents surrendered to his passion for figure skating.—
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Meanwhile, the offense has surrendered just 10 tackles for loss and four sacks.—
Verb
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The corporation, which will set out its position on Monday, has also been clear that Davie and Turness resigned and were not fired.—
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London — Two top leaders at the BBC resigned on Sunday amid an escalating scandal over impartiality and bias that plunged Britain’s public broadcaster into one of its biggest crises in recent years.—
Verb
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Purdy, rendered ineffective by a torn ligament in his right elbow on the opening drive against the Eagles in a disastrous NFC title game loss three seasons ago, completed all three passes for 74 yards and capped the drive with a 2-yard touchdown pass to Demarcus Robinson.—
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Or why roads and other critical infrastructure projects now take untold years and insane amounts of money to complete, and by the time they are finally opened are already rendered all but obsolete?—
Verb
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The family's fate changed when King Edward VIII abdicated in 1936 and his younger brother acceded to the throne, putting the firstborn Princess Elizabeth on the path to reign one day.—
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The last time this protocol was used was when Edward VIII abdicated in 1936.—
Verb
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Their study suggests that slow, orderly streams of cool gas already inside the galaxy—or delivered by interactions with nearby galaxies—may be quietly feeding central black holes, allowing those black holes to gently shut down star formation without blowing the galaxy apart.—
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Have the latest Reality Checks delivered to your inbox with our free newsletter.—
Verb
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O'Connor is not the only beauty queen who has renounced her title in recent months.—
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Manny Diaz, mayor from 2001 to 2009, went on years later to be chairman of the Florida Democratic Party, but renounced his affiliation with the party prior to his first election.—
Verb
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Europe has already ceded plenty of ground to keep the US on-side.—
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Failing to even make the playoffs, the Chiefs ceded the favorite spot to the Philadelphia Eagles after Week 11.—
Cite this Entry
“Relinquished.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/relinquished. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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