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
Relevance
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of knuckle under
Those that didn’t knuckle under — or otherwise incurred Trump’s wrath — got hit harder earlier this month.
—
Paul Wiseman, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2025
But in an era when entertainment companies, along with politicians and seemingly everyone else, race to knuckle under to Trump's bullying and litigious tactics, the episode is still a shock.
—Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 24 July 2025
Over time, Congress knuckled under, banning Chinese and limiting Italians and Jews with country-of-origin quotas rigged against them.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 18 July 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
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
Paul Wiseman, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2025
But in an era when entertainment companies, along with politicians and seemingly everyone else, race to knuckle under to Trump's bullying and litigious tactics, the episode is still a shock.
—Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 24 July 2025
Over time, Congress knuckled under, banning Chinese and limiting Italians and Jews with country-of-origin quotas rigged against them.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 18 July 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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knuckle under
Verb
-
After occupying Sinai, Britain and France succumbed to international pressure and withdrew their forces from Egypt in November.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Nov. 2025
-
The Hornets succumbed to the Minnesota Timberwolves, 122-105, upping their losing streak to three games on the heels of a trio of spirited outings to begin the 2025-26 campaign.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Shohei Ohtani, who had started the game on short rest and surrendered a three-run blast to Bo Bichette that put the Dodgers in a hole, hacked at a first-pitch cutter inside that Isiah Kiner-Falefa at second base handled easily.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
-
The Panthers took the lead again in the third period — courtesy of Sam Bennett’s second goal of the season — only to surrender it again on a Mikko Rantanen one-timer with 141 seconds left in regulation.—
Adam H. Beasley,
Miami Herald,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
To reach that goal, countries submitted their own climate action plans, known as nationally determined contributions (NDCs) as part of the Paris Agreement.—
Simmone Shah,
Time,
4 Nov. 2025
-
The department is asking witnesses to come forward, and also asks that people who have video of the incident submit it to investigators, both from the incident and from exterior cameras in the area.—
Teri Figueroa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Sinclair, Ripley conceded, has experienced the downside of YouTube TV’s growth, including blackouts of its affiliated regional sports networks.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Fateh conceded the race and congratulated Frey while celebrating the movement his campaign built.—
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Other companies bowed to growing pressure; two of America’s professional sports teams rebranded.—
Eileen Falkenberg-Hull,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2025
-
The Cannes-bowing film, starring Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù and set against the backdrop of political arrest in 1993 Nigeria, leads the pack of titles going into this year’s BIFA ceremony with 12 nominations, including best British independent film and director.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
3 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Knuckle under.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knuckle%20under. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share