1
as in collapsed
to fall down or in as a result of physical pressure
the wall caved in when a tree fell on it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in succumbed
to give up and cease resistance (as to a liking, temptation, or habit)
I caved in to my bibliomania and bought two more books last week
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for caved (in)
Verb
-
The sofa was so collapsed that getting up from it felt like core strength training.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025 -
And then on Thursday, after most of the show had been written, a man collapsed in the Oval Office, generating an instantly meme-able photograph of the president staring into the camera, looking oblivious to efforts to revive the prone victim at stage left.—
Erik Adams,
The Atlantic,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Done in by Immanuel Quickley burying a 3-pointer at the buzzer, the Hornets succumbed to the Toronto Raptors 97-96 at Spectrum Center on Wednesday night.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Trim away any roots that have succumbed to root rot.—
Helena Madden,
Martha Stewart,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Then, after Barnes had dragged Newcastle level and the home side had built up attacking pressure, Thiaw crumpled under a challenge from Calvert-Lewin inside his own box, stuck out an arm and handled Jaka Bijol’s nod-down.—
Chris Waugh,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
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The Nuggets were playing the Miami Heat when Jokic crumpled to the ground holding his knee at the tail end of the first half.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
30 Dec. 2025
Verb
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As of Friday, more than 200 questions had been submitted, with the deadline set for noon.—
Ryan Macasero,
Mercury News,
8 Nov. 2025
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Ryder was submitted in the lead category the previous two seasons.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
7 Nov. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Caved (in).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/caved%20%28in%29. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.
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