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
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Recent Examples of knuckle under
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
Of course, Cruz knuckled under a little while later.
—James Hohmann, Washington Post, 9 July 2024
Miraculously, however, it is told in the voice of a musician, Rainy, a man who refuses to knuckle under and whose tones remain kind and more hopeful than despairing.
—Katherine A. Powers, Washington Post, 22 June 2024
Biden is all too willing to knuckle under both to the environmentalists who want to stop any new conventional-energy development and to the labor bosses who don’t want to see the ports modernized and automated, which might eat into their discretionary funds.
—The Editors, National Review, 23 June 2022
Please do not knuckle under.
—Abigail Van Buren, oregonlive, 25 Oct. 2021
His determination to hold on to his dignity, to not knuckle under, marked a pathway for our family to move forward, to expand on what he’d not been allowed to do.
—Deborah Johnson, The Christian Science Monitor, 13 Feb. 2023
As noted in this space in 2015, the company required participants in its Times Journeys program — pricey overseas trips guided by Times journalists — to knuckle under to an arbitration clause.
—Erik Wemple, Washington Post, 24 Dec. 2022
Europe’s governing parties can’t knuckle under to Russian blackmail and retain their democratic viability.
—Holman W. Jenkins, WSJ, 30 Aug. 2022
Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Apr. 2025
Of course, Cruz knuckled under a little while later.
—James Hohmann, Washington Post, 9 July 2024
Miraculously, however, it is told in the voice of a musician, Rainy, a man who refuses to knuckle under and whose tones remain kind and more hopeful than despairing.
—Katherine A. Powers, Washington Post, 22 June 2024
Biden is all too willing to knuckle under both to the environmentalists who want to stop any new conventional-energy development and to the labor bosses who don’t want to see the ports modernized and automated, which might eat into their discretionary funds.
—The Editors, National Review, 23 June 2022
Please do not knuckle under.
—Abigail Van Buren, oregonlive, 25 Oct. 2021
His determination to hold on to his dignity, to not knuckle under, marked a pathway for our family to move forward, to expand on what he’d not been allowed to do.
—Deborah Johnson, The Christian Science Monitor, 13 Feb. 2023
As noted in this space in 2015, the company required participants in its Times Journeys program — pricey overseas trips guided by Times journalists — to knuckle under to an arbitration clause.
—Erik Wemple, Washington Post, 24 Dec. 2022
Europe’s governing parties can’t knuckle under to Russian blackmail and retain their democratic viability.
—Holman W. Jenkins, WSJ, 30 Aug. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knuckle under
Verb
-
In a moment that is almost cliché, the lawyer is the first to succumb to the terror of the T-Rex.—
Blake D. Morant,
Forbes.com,
8 July 2025
-
Some leaders recently have succumbed to such efforts and paid the piper, while others have resisted.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Time,
7 July 2025
Verb
-
Octavia Graham, 52, surrendered herself to authorities June 30 following a warrant for her arrest.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
7 July 2025
-
But during a nearly two-hour standoff, Rendon kept leaving and re-entering the house and ignored deputies’ demands to surrender, according to the district attorney.—
Caleb Lunetta,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 July 2025
Verb
-
The brewery opted not to submit any beers to the State Fair’s competition, according to the log of entries.—
Jack Rodriquez-Vars
July 13,
Sacbee.com,
13 July 2025
-
After nearly three years of discussion and refinement, plans have been submitted to the city of San Diego for a pair of monument signs to mark La Jolla’s Bird Rock area.—
Ashley Mackin Solomon,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 July 2025
Verb
-
Family members conceded that the trial was very tolling and difficult on them.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
14 July 2025
-
Spending that much wasn’t necessary, of course, and Varas concedes some of the features could have been downgraded.—
Denise Hruby
Updated July 13,
Miami Herald,
13 July 2025
Verb
-
That book bow at No. 2 on the New York Times’ bestseller list.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
10 July 2025
-
Liverpool’s captain walked slowly, head slightly bowed, his hands clasping a wreath of red flowers in the shape of a football shirt.—
Andy Jones,
New York Times,
6 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Knuckle under.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knuckle%20under. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
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