as in cousin
a person connected with another by blood or marriage
it's always fun to see all your relatives at a big family gathering
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in comparative
being such only when compared to something else
after being crammed into a one-bedroom apartment, they lived in relative comfort in a two-bedroom house
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in relevant
having to do with the matter at hand
I don't need the whole story, just the details that are relative to the case
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 relative
Carol Rosenberg, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2025
Forensic genetic genealogy is used to try to find a DNA match to a person's relatives, rather than finding a direct match to the person.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 12 Feb. 2025
Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 12 Feb. 2025
Once hooked, many global viewers responded to the relative tameness of Single’s Inferno compared to Western reality dating shows, such as Netflix’s own Too Hot to Handle or Love Island.
—Kayti Burt, TIME, 12 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for relative 
Noun
By not disclosing the migrants’ identities, the government has prevented their relatives from learning where they are being held and complicated efforts by lawyers who want to challenge their detention.
—Carol Rosenberg, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2025
Forensic genetic genealogy is used to try to find a DNA match to a person's relatives, rather than finding a direct match to the person.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 12 Feb. 2025
Adjective
In Mexico, a period of relative calm was shattered with the killing of five journalists as gangs and political groups clashed ahead of the June 2024 election.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 12 Feb. 2025
Once hooked, many global viewers responded to the relative tameness of Single’s Inferno compared to Western reality dating shows, such as Netflix’s own Too Hot to Handle or Love Island.
—Kayti Burt, TIME, 12 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for relative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for relative
Noun
-
The opening montage blends clips in a way that segues brilliantly from one to the next, as if the songs were sonic cousins that should have been considered in tandem all along.—
Nina Metz,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2025
-
One of those kids turned out to be her cousin, Vincent’s sister’s son, who was diagnosed with SMA in 2023 and then treated with Zolgensma.—
Robin Fields,
ProPublica,
12 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Led by comparative cognition postdoctoral candidate Christoph Völter, researchers introduced various communication scenarios to dogs to learn the answer.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
12 Feb. 2025
-
Before the mission, both men had agreed to participate in a comparative study of their bodies—Mark from Earth, Scott from space and Earth.—
Dhruv Khullar,
The New Yorker,
10 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
The relevant law here isn’t even particularly complex.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
14 Feb. 2025
-
The problem with this argument, Lanza surmised, is that the relevant arbitration language covered not just claims related to McDonough’s employment but also any dispute or controversy related to the Cardinals or their agents.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
14 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
In fact, relations with daily contacts, siblings and relatives will be heartwarming.—
Georgia Nicols,
The Denver Post,
10 Feb. 2025
-
Insisting that Gaza and the West Bank develop into areas governed by Palestinians as part of a big regional deal that curbs Iran's militancy and normalizes relations between Israel and other countries is a viable way forward.—
Kristan Hawkins,
Newsweek,
7 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Defenceman Larry Murphy is a nice comparable to Bouchard in this way.—
Allan Mitchell,
The Athletic,
14 Feb. 2025
-
In the same period, in 2023, there were just 19 comparable real estate transactions.—
Madeline Fitzgerald,
Quartz,
13 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
According to the team, the fluid dynamics involved in periodic cooking may be applicable in other materials research projects.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
7 Feb. 2025
-
In a statement, the department said all applicable HCD staff were in compliance with the governor’s directive.—
William Melhado,
Sacramento Bee,
5 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Despite arguably kicking off the trend of internet shutdowns a decade ago with an almost year-long blackout in the western province of Xinjiang, China is not a frequent offender.—
James Griffiths,
CNN,
9 Jan. 2020
-
West made his triumphant return to Twitter last Friday after an almost year-long hiatus.—
NBC News,
NBC News,
21 Apr. 2018
Articles Related to relative
Thesaurus Entries Near relative
Cite this Entry
“Relative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/relative. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share