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
Countries that didn’t knuckle under — and those that found other ways to incur Trump’s wrath — got hit harder.
—
Paul Wiseman, Fortune, 3 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
Please do not knuckle under.
—Abigail Van Buren, oregonlive, 25 Oct. 2021
Paul Wiseman, Fortune, 3 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
Please do not knuckle under.
—Abigail Van Buren, oregonlive, 25 Oct. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knuckle under
Verb
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There are those participants who safeguard their humanity amid such high stakes (like Cooper Hoffman's Garraty and David Jonsson's McVries) and those who succumb to the temptations of the game (like Charlie Plummer's Barkovitch).—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 Sep. 2025
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The Kennedale Fire Department attempted lifesaving measures, but the man succumbed to his injuries, authorities said in a news release.—
Fousia Abdullahi,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But on a day when Mizzou amassed 595 total yards, converted 4 of 5 fourth downs and got an excellent effort from first-year starting quarterback Beau Pribula, surrendering possession had to fill Kansas followers with a sense of dread.—
Blair Kerkhoff,
Kansas City Star,
7 Sep. 2025
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After allowing 18 chunk plays against Appalachian State, Charlotte surrendered just eight on Saturday night.—
Hunter Bailey,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Only 127 of Indiana's 351 public school districts — or 36% — submitted mandatory injury data for the statewide report.—
IndyStar,
IndyStar,
3 Sep. 2025
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It was seemingly first posted by an Instagram account called Washingtonian Problems (@washingtonianprobs), which said it was submitted anonymously by one of its members.—
Jordan King,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Executives concede that Toronto isn’t attracting the kind of wall-to-wall media attention that Cannes and Venice deliver.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
3 Sep. 2025
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Baker ended up with the worst figures for an English debutant, conceding 76 runs from seven overs.—
Tim Ellis,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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From stern to bow, the boat was a lesson in restrained elegance, with plenty of teak wood and muted, calming shades.—
Rachel Wallace,
Architectural Digest,
4 Sep. 2025
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David Michôd directs the film, which will bow at the Toronto International Film Festival.—
Mia Galuppo,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Knuckle under.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knuckle%20under. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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