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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of knuckle under
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
Of course, Cruz knuckled under a little while later.
—James Hohmann, Washington Post, 9 July 2024
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
Of course, Cruz knuckled under a little while later.
—James Hohmann, Washington Post, 9 July 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knuckle under
Verb
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Musical life after death Fela succumbed to complications from AIDS in 1997.—
Ian Brennan,
NPR,
15 Apr. 2026
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However, the last three decades have seen that pioneer spirit clash with — and eventually succumb to — the pressures of consolidation and short-term profit, critics say.—
John Pacenti,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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However, the facility agreed in 2025 to surrender its state license to sell dogs as part of a legal settlement tied to an animal cruelty investigation, Dane County officials said in March.—
Brady Halbleib,
CBS News,
18 Apr. 2026
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That forces Edwards to surrender the ball, but allows his teammates to play 4-on-3 offense on the backside.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The plans submitted by the president say that the Eisenhower Executive Office Building is an eyesore that has long been criticized and has fallen into disrepair since its completion.—
Arden Farhi,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2026
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The auction allocates securities based on the bids submitted, with primary dealers often purchasing a significant share and then distributing those securities in the secondary market.—
Colin Dodds,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Kraken have a -31 scoring differential, with 224 total goals scored and 255 conceded.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Green rarely strayed more than a few feet from the Clippers superstar, fighting through screens rather than conceding a switch.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The ceiling was noticeably bowed, and the floor was partly rotted.—
Emma Green,
New Yorker,
17 Apr. 2026
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As a bowing line of storms sweeps into our area from the west Tuesday night, the main danger will be straight-line wind gusts of up to 60 mph.—
Ahmad Bajjey,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Knuckle under.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knuckle%20under. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
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