Synonyms of give way

give way

phrase

1

as in collapse

to fall down or in as a result of physical pressure

That old chair is going to give way soon.

Synonyms & Similar Words

• collapse
• go
• tumble
• give
• founder
• yield
• cave (in)
• buckle
• go out
• crumple
• die
• melt
• give out
• shatter
• crumble
• implode
• fail
• crash
• break
• burst
• snap
• flatten
• pop
• stall
• crack
• split
• break down
• smash
• melt down
• splinter
• deflate
• conk (out)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rise
• swell
• inflate

2

as in withdraw

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

• withdraw
• retreat
• give ground
• retire
• pull out
• fall back
• drop back
• lose ground
• back away
• recede
• flee
• evacuate
• fly
• leave
• shrink
• recoil
• pull away
• flinch
• chicken (out)
• back down
• climb down
• go
• detach
• depart
• bow out
• abandon
• backtrack
• quit
• disengage
• vacate
• disentangle
• backpedal

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• advance
• face
• dare
• breast
• confront
• brave
• defy
• beard
• outbrave
• brazen

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of give way

Journalist Reitman connects lives of nine Americans over three decades, vividly showing how ideals can give way to fear. — Bethanne Patrick, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026

That repetition eventually gives way to a more intimate moment, the kind of experience Sivan wanted the Madonna sample to evoke. — Lily Brown, PEOPLE, 1 Oct. 2026

His experimental and ambient work gradually gave way to dance and, almost naturally, to film. — Ben Croll, Variety, 30 Sep. 2026

By the end of the book, Viard’s disappointment gives way to melancholy. — Olivier Bouchara, Vanity Fair, 30 Sep. 2026