1
as in succumbs
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 surrenders
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 capitulates
Pythons are constrictors, known to grip prey in their jaws, coil around it, then squeeze until the victim capitulates.
—
Mark Price, Miami Herald, 11 Aug. 2025
Mark Price, Miami Herald, 11 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for capitulates
Verb
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But her character succumbs to Ducournau’s convoluted plotting.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
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The 11-year-old titular character in Hamnet, up for Best Picture, succumbs to the plague.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Robert Simmons surrenders to police following a seven-hour standoff.—
Julie Sharp,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
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But Trump on Friday said that the United States wouldn’t end the war until Iran surrenders unconditionally.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The goal is usually to claim a refund before the real taxpayer submits their return.—
Roxanne Downer,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2026
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Enrollment begins when an applicant engages with the online application and submits information for review under Lifeline participation requirements.—
Ascend Agency,
Mercury News,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Even the manager concedes that health questions hover over every member of his prospective rotation.—
Jayson Stark,
New York Times,
16 Mar. 2026
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Oosterhoff concedes that psychiatric diagnoses and prognoses are inherently less certain than those of physical illnesses.—
Charles Lane,
The Atlantic,
15 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Capitulates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/capitulates. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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