1
as in collapsing
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 succumbing
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 caving (in)
Verb
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On even longer timescales, the remnant black holes that were created, whether from stellar explosions, neutron star mergers, a collapsing gas cloud, or having grown into supermassive behemoths, will all evaporate.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
20 Feb. 2026 -
CDs were collapsing, streaming hadn’t yet found its footing, and most of the conversation centered on what was being lost.—
Jem Aswad,
Variety,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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And then Malinin, 21, imploded in a shocking collapse, succumbing to the enormous pressure of his first Winter Games and finishing an incomprehensible eighth.—
Bora Erden,
New York Times,
14 Feb. 2026
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Her elder two sisters died at 10 and 11; her sister Anne at 29; her ne’er-do-well brother Branwell at 31; and Charlotte at the ripe age of 38—all succumbing to tuberculosis.—
Natasha O'Neill,
Vanity Fair,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The 21-year-old Arkansas product, who had been out since late-December with a right MCL sprain, showcased hustle too – saving a ball from going out of bounds to set up a Timme layup on the other end.—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
11 Feb. 2026
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With gullwing doors and powered by a Dodge Viper V-10 engine, only about 13 examples were made, with the company going out of business in 2020.—
Robert Ross,
Robb Report,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Why travelers are giving in to fees.—
Zach Wichter,
USA Today,
11 Feb. 2026
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For anyone still soaking up the flavors of fresh peaches before giving in to pumpkin spice, check your produce drawer.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Roethling recommends submitting the sample to your local Cooperative Extension office for accurate testing.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
20 Feb. 2026
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When submitting, please include your address along with the specific date and time of the video.—
Adam Sabes , Michael Ruiz,
FOXNews.com,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Orlando won despite going eight of 23 from three-point range, two games after setting a franchise record with 27 three-pointers in a victory at Sacramento.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Feb. 2026
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Meanwhile, Duke won the rebounding battle 41-28 as Michigan settled for too many one-and-done perimeter shots, going 6 of 25 from 3-point range.—
Ben Nuckols,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The oar swung violently in its oarlock, knocking him into the river and crumpling the raft’s aluminum frame.—
Emilee Coblentz,
Outside,
11 Feb. 2026
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The sixth inning also featured a frightening moment when Cleveland’s David Fry, squaring around to bunt, took a 99 mph fastball from Skubal off his face, crumpling to the dirt as Skubal reacted with distress.—
Zack Meisel,
New York Times,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Trump backed down from a threat to launch a military invasion following congressional blowback, tumbling stock prices and criticism from America's closest allies.—
Francesca Chambers,
USA Today,
23 Feb. 2026
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The falls sent him tumbling from first place all the way off the podium.—
Sallee Ann Harrison,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Feb. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Caving (in).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/caving%20%28in%29. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.
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