1
as in succumbed
to cease resistance (as to another's arguments, demands, or control)
one side finally capitulated when it became clear that they couldn't win the argument
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in surrendered
to yield to the control or power of enemy forces
the city reluctantly capitulated to the invaders after a three-day siege
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of capitulated
Less than a week later, however, Democrats resumed their old habits and capitulated to congressional Republicans to end the government shutdown, reminding everyone that despair is, in fact, a persistent theme of liberal politics.
—
Rosa Lyster, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Colombia capitulated within hours, and the crisis was resolved.
—Kevin Whitaker, Foreign Affairs, 15 Dec. 2025
The Republican president also has struggled to recover from public blowback on other issues, such as his management of the federal government, and has not seen an approval bump even after congressional Democrats effectively capitulated to end a record-long government shutdown last month.
—Linley Sanders, Fortune, 11 Dec. 2025
The Haitian leadership quickly capitulated and bloodshed was largely avoided.
—Kim Hjelmgaard, USA Today, 14 Nov. 2025
Tech companies have capitulated, and so have news organizations.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 14 Nov. 2025
Rather than spending millions in a relentless quest to solve the problems wrought by Coors Field, the Rockies appear to have capitulated to its whims.
—Andy McCullough, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
General Mills capitulated and brought back the original Trix, artificial dyes and all.
—Alina Selyukh, NPR, 8 Sep. 2025
Trump, who has sometimes seemed conflicted about the anti-vax sentiment in his coalition that prevents him from claiming more credit for Operation Warp Speed, has thoroughly capitulated to the political reality that Kennedy is a useful ally.
—Dhruv Khullar, New Yorker, 6 Sep. 2025
Rosa Lyster, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Colombia capitulated within hours, and the crisis was resolved.
—Kevin Whitaker, Foreign Affairs, 15 Dec. 2025
The Republican president also has struggled to recover from public blowback on other issues, such as his management of the federal government, and has not seen an approval bump even after congressional Democrats effectively capitulated to end a record-long government shutdown last month.
—Linley Sanders, Fortune, 11 Dec. 2025
The Haitian leadership quickly capitulated and bloodshed was largely avoided.
—Kim Hjelmgaard, USA Today, 14 Nov. 2025
Tech companies have capitulated, and so have news organizations.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 14 Nov. 2025
Rather than spending millions in a relentless quest to solve the problems wrought by Coors Field, the Rockies appear to have capitulated to its whims.
—Andy McCullough, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
General Mills capitulated and brought back the original Trix, artificial dyes and all.
—Alina Selyukh, NPR, 8 Sep. 2025
Trump, who has sometimes seemed conflicted about the anti-vax sentiment in his coalition that prevents him from claiming more credit for Operation Warp Speed, has thoroughly capitulated to the political reality that Kennedy is a useful ally.
—Dhruv Khullar, New Yorker, 6 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for capitulated
Verb
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Invincible, from Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman, is filled to the brim with zombie apocalypse alumni, many of whom have succumbed to the undead.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
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Players at many schools allegedly succumbed to these offers, according to the indictment.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
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At the same time, foreign interest and investment were not much helped when, in 2007, Chávez sent the military to occupy the oil fields, demanding majority control be surrendered to PDVSA.—
Scott Montgomery,
Forbes.com,
25 Jan. 2026
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Three individuals inside the car surrendered without incident, McCabe said.—
Caroline Zimmerman,
Kansas City Star,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
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One internal Google presentation, which is undated, conceded that using YouTube for learning is hard because the platform is distracting and disorganized.—
Tyler Kingkade,
NBC news,
23 Jan. 2026
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Within three months, the city hired a consultant who studied costs and projected a savings over 20 years of $500 million, though the consultant conceded that was an estimate and the actual figure could be anywhere between $250 million and $900 million.—
Rafael Olmeda,
Sun Sentinel,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The ticket has to be submitted before the opening leg of the sequence begins.—
Danny Brewer,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
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Caudillo was one of 75 people who submitted letters in support of Busfield as a judge prepared to rule on whether Busfield would be kept in custody or released while awaiting trial.—
Liza Esquibias,
PEOPLE,
21 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Capitulated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/capitulated. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
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