Repent vs. Relent: What's the Difference?
Repent and Relent Definitions
Repent
To feel remorse, contrition, or self-reproach for what one has done or failed to do; be contrite
"[He] liked to visit prisoners and admonish them to repent of their ways" (Adam Hochschild).
Relent
To become more lenient, compassionate, or forgiving.
Repent
To feel such regret for past conduct as to change one's mind regarding it
Repented of intemperate behavior. You'd better accept their offer before they repent.
Relent
To become less severe or intense; slacken
The storm finally relented.
Repent
To become a more moral or religious person as a result of remorse or contrition for one's sins.
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Relent
Stay; stop; delay.
Repent
To feel regret or self-reproach for
Repent one's sins.
Relent
(obsolete) A relenting.
Repent
(Archaic) To cause (one or oneself) to feel remorse or regret
"And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth" (King James Bible).
Relent
(intransitive) To give in or be swayed; to become less hard, harsh, or cruel; to show clemency.
He had planned to ground his son for a month, but relented and decided to give him a stern lecture instead.
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Repent
Prostrate or growing along the ground.
Relent
(intransitive) To slacken; to abate.
We waited for the storm to relent before we ventured outside.
He will not relent in his effort to reclaim his victory.
Repent
(intransitive) To feel pain, sorrow, or regret for what one has done or omitted to do; the cause for repenting may be indicated with "of".
Marry in haste, repent at leisure.
Relent
To lessen, make less severe or intense.
Repent
To be sorry for sin as morally evil, and to seek forgiveness; to cease to practice sin and to love.
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Relent
To become less rigid or hard; to soften; to yield, for example by dissolving or melting
Repent
(transitive) To feel pain on account of; to remember with sorrow.
Relent
(obsolete) softhearted; yielding
Repent
(transitive) To be sorry for, to regret.
I repent my sins.
Relent
To become less rigid or hard; to yield; to dissolve; to melt; to deliquesce.
He stirred the coals till relente ganThe wax again the fire.
[Salt of tartar] placed in a cellar will . . . begin to relent.
When opening buds salute the welcome day,And earth, relenting, feels the genial ray.
Repent
To cause to have sorrow or regret.
Relent
To become less severe or intense; to become less hard, harsh, cruel, or the like; to soften in temper; to become more mild and tender; to feel compassion.
Can you . . . beholdMy sighs and tears, and will not once relent?
Repent
To cause (oneself) to feel pain or regret.
Relent
To slacken; to abate.
And oftentimes he would relent his pace.
Repent
Creeping along the ground.
Relent
To soften; to dissolve.
Repent
Prostrate and rooting; - said of stems.
Relent
To mollify ; to cause to be less harsh or severe.
Repent
Same as Reptant.
Relent
Stay; stop; delay.
Nor rested till she came without relentUnto the land of Amazons.
Repent
To feel pain, sorrow, or regret, for what one has done or omitted to do.
First she relentsWith pity; of that pity then repents.
Relent
Give in, as to influence or pressure
Repent
To change the mind, or the course of conduct, on account of regret or dissatisfaction.
Lest, peradventure, the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt.
Repent
To be sorry for sin as morally evil, and to seek forgiveness; to cease to love and practice sin.
Except ye repent, ye shall likewise perish.
Repent
To feel pain on account of; to remember with sorrow.
I do repent it from my very soul.
Repent
To feel regret or sorrow; - used reflexively.
My father has repented him ere now.
Repent
To cause to have sorrow or regret; - used impersonally.
Repent
Turn away from sin or do penitence
Repent
Feel remorse for; feel sorry for; be contrite about
