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
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
-
If someone succumbs to the heat, promptly relocate them to a cool, shaded location.—
Bay Area Weather Report,
Mercury News,
23 Sep. 2025
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During that time, a couple of computers from their ragtag collection succumbed to overheating and even flames.—
Leila Sloman,
Quanta Magazine,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The Cowboys’ defense may have reached its lowest point last week against the Bears, surrendering 31 points, four touchdown passes and a 60 percent success rate on third downs.—
Mike Jones,
New York Times,
28 Sep. 2025
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It’s been a rough couple of years and an uneven few weeks for the Broncos’ secondary, which often finds itself on the receiving end of criticism for surrendering big plays and big passing yards.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
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According to a report by the Topeka Capital-Journal, the Kansas DCF submitted a corrective action plan by the deadline.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Sep. 2025
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Federal spending will likely increase given that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has approved $6 million more in administrative costs not reflected in this report because it was published before the state submitted invoices.—
Margaret Coker,
ProPublica,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Yet the Republican conceded that DOGE’s work has not been as easily accomplished as Musk once hoped.—
Mabinty Quarshie,
The Washington Examiner,
25 Sep. 2025
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Dickerson, who had a big lead in unofficial results, declared victory on Tuesday night, and Shigley conceded.—
Robert Birsel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Though Jimmy Kimmel is now back on the air, the Directors Guild of America isn’t acting like this instance of a Hollywood corporation apparently bowing to political pressure will be a one-off.—
Katie Kilkenny,
HollywoodReporter,
25 Sep. 2025
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Next up for Brown is the final season of Stranger Things, which Netflix release over three volumes with the first set of episodes bowing over Thanksgiving weekend and the final episode bowing on New Year’s Eve.—
Justin Kroll,
Deadline,
24 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Knuckle under.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knuckle%20under. Accessed 30 Sep. 2025.
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