Synonyms of gave way

gave way

phrase

past tense of give way

1

as in collapsed

to fall down or in as a result of physical pressure

That old chair is going to give way soon.

Synonyms & Similar Words

• collapsed
• went out
• went
• crumpled
• tumbled
• gave
• yielded
• died
• buckled
• melted
• shattered
• caved (in)
• foundered
• gave out
• crumbled
• imploded
• failed
• crashed
• flattened
• burst
• broke
• snapped
• popped
• stalled
• broke down
• smashed
• split
• cracked
• melted down
• deflated
• splintered
• conked (out)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rose
• inflated
• swelled

2

as in withdrew

to move back or away (as from something difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable)

They were urged to give way but chose to stand their ground.

Synonyms & Similar Words

• withdrew
• retreated
• retired
• pulled out
• fell back
• dropped back
• lost ground
• gave ground
• backed away
• fled
• receded
• evacuated
• flew
• left
• pulled away
• recoiled
• flinched
• detached
• shrank
• climbed down
• departed
• went
• bowed out
• abandoned
• vacated
• disengaged
• backed down
• quit
• chickened (out)
• backtracked
• backpedaled
• disentangled

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• advanced
• confronted
• dared
• faced
• bearded
• defied
• braved
• breasted
• outbraved
• brazened

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of gave way

In the city of Hurricane in far southwestern Utah, a shipping container drifting down a street gave way Friday to a mess of mud and debris to be cleaned up as people who had evacuated earlier in the week returned home. — Mead Gruver, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026

Those failed rallies eventually gave way to a correction of approximately 10%, accompanied by the Iran conflict. — Frank Cappelleri, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026

Recently, my ankle gave way while hiking in the Santa Monica Mountains. — Diana Daniele, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026

Mild unease gave way to statements about being worthless, unloved, and a failure. — Shae Lake, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026

The festive pregame party gave way to a first half filled with long stretches of fouls and missed shots, not leaving much reason for the cheers to continue. — Cbs New York Team, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026

Examples of interpersonal violence are rare among Stone Age remains, only becoming common later as hunting and gathering gave way to settled farming communities. — Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2026

Over the weeks, personal publications gave way to political disputes, with local politicians claiming credit for firefighting efforts or accusing authorities of failing to act. — ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026

But as Hamilton’s economic interventionism gave way to Thomas Jefferson’s laissez-faire approach, the bounty programs faded away. — David S. Cohen, Foreign Affairs, 8 Oct. 2026