1
as in to succumb
to cease resistance (as to another's arguments, demands, or control)
encouraged her to stand firm and not knuckle under to political pressure
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to surrender
to yield to the control or power of enemy forces
the remote outpost was overrun and forced to knuckle under
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of knuckle under
Some owners show their mettle for a spell, then find adequate reason to knuckle under; others have no intention of even pretending to do what is hard or what is right.
—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
29 May 2026
Everyone, including the media, knuckles under.
—
Bill Goodykoontz,
AZCentral.com,
24 Feb. 2026
That’s a clear message to others to get in line and knuckle under — or else.
—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
14 Jan. 2026
How much of this is a bluff designed to get Senate Democrats to knuckle under and vote to reopen the government and how much of this is wishcasting by MAGA?
—
Chris Stirewalt,
The Hill,
10 Oct. 2025
Those that didn’t knuckle under — or otherwise incurred Trump’s wrath — got hit harder earlier this month.
—
Paul Wiseman,
Fortune,
30 Aug. 2025
The front lines of our legal edifice have been divided and conquered, with premier law firms knuckling under and meekly promising to shut up and work for Trump, while the Supreme Court carefully pulls its punches to avoid a showdown.
—
Tom Rogers,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Apr. 2025
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
29 May 2026
Everyone, including the media, knuckles under.
—
Bill Goodykoontz,
AZCentral.com,
24 Feb. 2026
That’s a clear message to others to get in line and knuckle under — or else.
—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
14 Jan. 2026
How much of this is a bluff designed to get Senate Democrats to knuckle under and vote to reopen the government and how much of this is wishcasting by MAGA?
—
Chris Stirewalt,
The Hill,
10 Oct. 2025
Those that didn’t knuckle under — or otherwise incurred Trump’s wrath — got hit harder earlier this month.
—
Paul Wiseman,
Fortune,
30 Aug. 2025
The front lines of our legal edifice have been divided and conquered, with premier law firms knuckling under and meekly promising to shut up and work for Trump, while the Supreme Court carefully pulls its punches to avoid a showdown.
—
Tom Rogers,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Apr. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knuckle under
Verb
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The couple was found unresponsive and later succumbed to their injuries.
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Suddenly, Marjane succumbing to sorrow became achingly comprehensible.
Verb
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Will Klein surrendered a seventh-inning single to Jackson that sent two baserunners, including one inherited from Dodgers left-hander Jack Dreyer, across the plate.
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An armed suspect surrendered to the California Highway Patrol after an hours-long pursuit through Los Angeles County.
Verb
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While Warsh broke precedent by not submitting his projections for the federal funds rate, nine members of the FOMC see room for a hike before the end of 2026.
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And schools that delay submitting transfer paperwork until the last minute thinking investigators will be too busy to spot an error don’t understand the process.
Verb
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While scoring goals left and right, the Dutch have also conceded a goal in every game, four in all.
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Baltimore will be getting its first female sheriff after incumbent Sam Cogen conceded to Sabrina Tapp-Harper in Maryland's primary election.
Verb
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The 2028 release date will put Donkey face-to-face with Paramount's live-action Call of Duty movie, which is due to bow on the same day.
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Here’s the first trailer for The Weight, the directorial debut of Padraic McKinley that bowed at Sundance in January.
Cite this Entry
“Knuckle under.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knuckle%20under. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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