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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Former New York Jets linebacker Darron Lee has been arrested and charged in the murder of his girlfriend, who was found brutalized at a home in Tennessee on Thursday before succumbing to her injuries.—
Jami Ganz,
Mercury News,
8 Feb. 2026 -
Former New York Jets linebacker Darron Lee has been arrested and charged in the murder of his girlfriend, who was found brutalized at a home in Tennessee on Thursday before succumbing to her injuries.—
Jami Ganz,
New York Daily News,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Despite surrendering a two-goal lead in the third period, the Panthers got the edge in the shootout with a winning goal from Brad Marchand.—
Adam Lichtenstein,
Sun Sentinel,
5 Feb. 2026
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Meekly surrendering the Carabao Cup over two legs against Manchester City 11 months later underlines the still-pending nature of their transformation into an elite outfit.—
Chris Waugh,
New York Times,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Wright is looking forward to submitting her film to other film festivals after being a part of Balentine’s local series.—
Darcel Rockett,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2026
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Both said they were not contacted by the committee after submitting their complaints.—
Emma Murphy,
Oklahoma Voice,
12 Feb. 2026
Verb
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What is clear is that Oklahoma has become a central player in a national strategy that treats detention not as a means of ensuring public safety, but as an end in itself, a system designed to pressure immigrants into giving up their legal claims and leaving the country voluntarily.—
Ben Fenwick,
Oklahoma Watch,
13 Feb. 2026
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And as the number of pets goes up, many people wind up giving up their animal, overcrowding shelters.—
Margret Grebowicz,
Fortune,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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For anyone still soaking up the flavors of fresh peaches before giving in to pumpkin spice, check your produce drawer.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
3 Nov. 2025
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Amid all this, censors were sitting on Panahi’s script, only giving in after reformist newspapers took up his cause.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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There were a few boos at the 32-year-old German’s substitutions and at the end of a 2-1 defeat from 1-0 up at Fulham, a few more after conceding a 97th-minute equaliser in a 1-1 home draw with Everton.—
Andy Naylor,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
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His hybrid was designed to preserve the elegance and smooth operation of electric motors while conceding the practical power and range that fuel offered.—
Bill Gourgey,
Popular Science,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Grow a backbone, quit bowing down.—
Janelle Ash,
FOXNews.com,
6 Feb. 2026
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Young Americans, often skeptical of institutions at home, seem surprisingly comfortable with Japan’s dense web of social expectations, from bowing to sorting trash into multiple categories.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
5 Feb. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Knuckling under.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knuckling%20under. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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