knuckles under

verb

present tense third-person singular of knuckle under
1
as in succumbs
to cease resistance (as to another's arguments, demands, or control) encouraged her to stand firm and not knuckle under to political pressure

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in surrenders
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

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 knuckles under Everyone, including the media, knuckles under. — Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 24 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knuckles under
  1. succumbs
  2. surrenders
  3. submits
  4. gives up
  5. concedes
  6. bows
Verb
  • Vhagar dies in the crash and Caraxes succumbs to his injuries a few days after crawling out and into the bowls of Harrenhal.
    — James Grebey, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026
  • When Mina’s closest friend Lucy succumbs to his thrall, the enigmatic Professor Van Helsing is summoned to wage war on this unfathomable threat.
    — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 22 July 2026
Definition of succumbs
Verb
  • The suspect driver surrenders on the 60 Freeway after leading police on a speeding pursuit for over an hour.
    — Julie Sharp, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Summer is usually the busiest season for shelters, officials said, as more stray animals, owner surrenders and vulnerable kittens arrive.
    — Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of surrenders
Verb
  • Firewise is a national program where each community of eight to 200 homes works together to create defensible space and clear brush, agrees to continue the work annually and submits an application to Firewise USA.
    — Chuck Page, Mercury News, 16 Aug. 2026
  • The agency’s bid analysis reflects a process in which each Part D sponsor that wants to offer a standalone plan submits a bid to CMS every year, outlining the insurer’s benefits, costs and list of reimbursable medicines.
    — Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of submits
Verb
  • But really, a Landry never gives up hope.
    — Megan Vick, Variety, 22 June 2026
  • The message on Iranian television is that a ‘strong and proud’ Islamic Republic has forced Washington to recognize its control over the Strait of Hormuz and to ease military pressure, while Tehran supposedly gives up very little in return.
    — Benjamin Weinthal, FOXNews.com, 15 June 2026
Definition of gives up
Verb
  • Jacques told them that the couple would only have ownership once the gallery paid the estate, but, in her court filing, Jacques concedes that was incorrect.
    — Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 17 Aug. 2026
  • The lesson here – and one the NBCU-Peacock-YouTube deal concedes – is that a media company just isn’t the mountain that Mohammed goes to – the consumers are the mountain.
    — Howard Homonoff, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of concedes
Verb
  • The group bows atop the chart with 369,000 equivalent album units, with traditional album sales accounting for 357,000 of that sum.
    — Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Sophie Cunningham/transgender debate has no easy right or wrong // FIFA bows to pressure from Europe boycott, abandons private-equity plan // History suggests Miami Dolphins may be surprise team in ’26 // Cancel that intro.
    — Greg Cote August 16, Miami Herald, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of bows

Browse Nearby Words

knuckles down (to)
knuckles under
knuckles under (to)
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Cite this Entry

“Knuckles under.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knuckles%20under. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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