KNUCKLING UNDER Synonyms: 55 Similar and Opposite Words

knuckling under

verb

present participle of knuckle under

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in surrendering

to yield to the control or power of enemy forces the remote outpost was overrun and forced to knuckle under

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for knuckling under

Verb

Cape Verde made it to the knockout round and twice evened the score against three-time champion Argentina on Saturday in the round of 32 before succumbing in extra time.

— Michael Cunningham, AJC.com, 6 July 2026
On Thursday at Wimbledon, a couple of players were unable to do so, succumbing to Nadal’s Law.

— Ava Wallace, New York Times, 2 July 2026

Definition of succumbing

Verb

In a letter believed to be written around June 30, two days after submitting the draft of the Declaration, Jefferson asked Edmund Pendleton, president of the Virginia Convention, for someone to replace him at the Continental Congress.

— Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 3 July 2026
The facility is experienced in submitting documentation and claims to the VA’s Foreign Medical Program on behalf of eligible veterans.

— Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 29 June 2026

Definition of submitting

Verb

Instead of Rock Hill giving up half its money from the Octapharma deal, the city would give up all of it over the 40-year incentive.

— John Marks, Charlotte Observer, 8 July 2026
Gibson retires the first two batters before giving up a single to Paul Goldschmidt, followed by the homer barrage.

— Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026

Definition of giving up

Verb

In 1997, as Sanders was reckoning with his father’s pain, Glass was giving in to hers.

— Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 21 June 2026
Sonya, despite having a boyfriend, seems to feel the same way, but time and society are the only things holding her back from giving in to these feelings.

— Laura Sirikul, Forbes.com, 20 June 2026

Definition of giving in

Verb

Before the Japan match, only once in 12 occasions since 2023 have the Selecao won after conceding first, so the psychological impact of doing that – after recovering against Morocco to draw too – is significant.

— Chris Evans, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
El Tri comfortably topped Group A after notching three wins without conceding a single goal, before beating Ecuador 2-0 in the Round of 32, meaning the Mexican defense is yet to be breached at this tournament.

— Ben Church, CNN Money, 5 July 2026

Definition of conceding

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“Knuckling under.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knuckling%20under. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of knuckling under

verb

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