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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Ace Hunter Brown made two starts before succumbing to a shoulder strain and closer Josh Hader has not thrown a pitch in the majors this season.—
Matt Kawahara,
Houston Chronicle,
7 May 2026 -
Its Blue Ghost lander returned scientific data from the lunar surface for 14 days before succumbing to the dark lunar night.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
6 May 2026
Verb
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The mall, one of Chicago’s largest, fell on hard times after getting hit by the rise of online retail and then the pandemic, losing its top retailer, Macy’s, in 2021, followed by the owner surrendering control of the property in 2022.—
Brian J. Rogal,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
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The defensive effort got Cameron out of the fifth inning without surrendering a run.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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This week, Bonta joined a coalition of 22 attorneys general from mainly Democratic states submitting a comment letter to the Postal Service outlining their opposition.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2026
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People can also apply for SNAP by downloading a paper application and submitting it in person at a service center.—
Mike Stunson,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
Verb
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The Ducks fell into a not-so-old habit, giving up a goal on the first shot of the game, this time just 66 seconds into the match.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
9 May 2026
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Blanco, meanwhile, also earned the pitching victory, striking out three and giving up four hits in three innings.—
Patrick Z. McGavin,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2026
Verb
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Deborah pecks her before reluctantly giving in to more passionate smooches.—
Erin Jensen,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
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Council member Abbie Kamin, one of three members who had pushed for the ordinance, voted against amending it, saying that doing so was giving in to bullying tactics from state leaders.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Their final away game might not look great but Chelsea are on one of the worst runs in the club’s history, losing the last six games while conceding 14 goals and scoring only one.—
Abdul Rehman,
New York Times,
7 May 2026
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Led by forward Trinity Rodman, the Spirit have scored 10 goals while conceding just four through seven matches.—
Kyle Foley,
The Orlando Sentinel,
1 May 2026
Verb
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The storms are expected to organize into clusters, and bowing segments later in the evening will take on more of a wind than hail threat, the weather service said.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
4 May 2026
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No one was bowing down and handing them the World Series trophy just for that, just like no one should write them off because of a bad stretch of games.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
4 May 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 12 May. 2026.
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