1
as in succumbing
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 surrendering
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 knuckling under
Verb
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Everything has broken right for Egbuka since the moment he was drafted, with Chris Godwin having a setback from his 2024 injury, Jalen McMillan severely injuring his neck and then Mike Evans succumbing to his annual hamstring injury.—
Michael Salfino,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025 -
Alas, Waller wasn’t targeted again and the Dolphins punted on six of their final seven possessions, succumbing 27-24 in a gut-wrenching loss at Carolina to fall to 1-4.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
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This past weekend, the team gave up its biggest point total of the year, surrendering 37 points to the Dallas Cowboys in a Week 5 loss.—
Matt Audilet,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Oct. 2025
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Sometimes new parents just need someone to listen, says Nick Silverio, founder of the Florida nonprofit A Safe Haven for Newborns, which helps women who are considering surrendering their infants (and which opposes baby boxes).—
Alana Semuels,
Time,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Defense lawyers also sought to bolster their argument by submitting more than 75 letters of support from Combs' family, former employees, friends and nearly a dozen inmates who have taken his business management class in prison.—
Peter Charalambous,
ABC News,
3 Oct. 2025
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Starting on Friday, anyone interested in applying for the role as interim county executive can apply on the county clerk’s website, submitting a short application and resume, McGee said.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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And the Titans are giving up the fifth-most yards per carry.—
Gladys Louise Tyler,
Forbes.com,
11 Oct. 2025
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The loss wasted an incredible effort by ace Tarik Skubal, who gave the Tigers six innings, giving up one run and striking out 13.—
Brian Manzullo,
Freep.com,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The fake Trump ruled out giving in to Democrats’ demands.—
Robert Birsel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
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Lesson learned, no more giving in to her ridiculous demands.—
Ashlyn Robinette,
PEOPLE,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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After conceding three more counter-attack goals at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan last weekend, there’s an increasing feeling that when the press doesn’t quite click, things are more liable to go spectacularly wrong.—
Thom Harris,
New York Times,
8 Oct. 2025
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History has taught us what happens when antisemitism is rewarded—Neville Chamberlain and other weak leaders signed the Munich Agreement in 1938, conceding to Adolf Hitler’s demands.—
Ofir Akunis,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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He will be killed by his brother, the angel Ejllael (Steve Noh), for bowing to a human.—
Kayti Burt,
Time,
3 Oct. 2025
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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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Cite this Entry
“Knuckling under.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knuckling%20under. Accessed 14 Oct. 2025.
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