KNUCKLED UNDER Synonyms: 56 Similar and Opposite Words

knuckled under

verb

past tense of knuckle under

as in succumbed

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

as in surrendered

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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for knuckled under

Verb

In the cluster of fishing boats at the very edge of the quay running parallel to the restaurant, a fisherman had succumbed to the heat.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Nov. 2026
The following year, before a new trial could get underway, Ruby succumbed to cancer.

— Lee Harvey Oswald, Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 Nov. 2026

Definition of succumbed

Verb

Anything beyond that amount must be submitted to ISBE for approval.

— Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 11 Nov. 2026
In 2023 and 2024, Agtsteribbe allegedly submitted falsified discharge papers to the Town of Southampton in an attempt to avoid a $50 resident permit fee and obtain a handicap parking permit.

— Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 11 Nov. 2026

Definition of submitted

Verb

Extramarital affairs and relationships that were not disclosed to board members have felled CEOs at companies as prominent as Boeing and McDonald’s in the past.

— Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 9 Nov. 2026
Collins faces Democrat Troy Jackson, a former Maine Senate leader who stepped in to the race after scandals felled nominee Graham Platner in July.

— Justin Papp,Caleigh Keating,Garrett Downs,Kevin Breuninger,Dan Mangan, CNBC, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of fell

Verb

Governor Wins Without Runoff Kreiss-Tomkins cleared the majority needed to win the governor’s race outright, and Republican Bernadette Wilson conceded.

— Rich Percival, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Nov. 2026
Dunlap conceded last week and LePage declared victory, and he's been in Washington for orientation for new members.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 13 Nov. 2026

Definition of conceded

Verb

Some of the Kosovan players also bowed their heads while the anthem was played, while Israel’s players and coaching staff sang passionately, apparently in defiance of the home fans.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 Nov. 2026
The men’s collection launches one month after True Religion bowed a collaboration with Baby Phat, Phat Farm’s women’s brand.

— Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 12 Nov. 2026

Definition of bowed

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.

Cite this Entry

Style

“Knuckled under.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knuckled%20under. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of knuckled under

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

lissome

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

31 Useful Rhetorical Devices

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Popular in Wordplay

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Longest Long Words List

The Words of the Week - Nov. 13

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes