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as in to capitulate
to yield to the control or power of enemy forces the fort's commander received orders not to submit under any circumstances, as reinforcements were on the way

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb submit differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of submit are capitulate, defer, relent, succumb, and yield. While all these words mean "to give way to someone or something that one can no longer resist," submit suggests full surrendering after resistance or conflict to the will or control of another.

a repentant sinner vowing to submit to the will of God

When could capitulate be used to replace submit?

The words capitulate and submit are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, capitulate stresses the fact of ending all resistance and may imply either a coming to terms (as with an adversary) or hopelessness in the face of an irresistible opposing force.

officials capitulated to the protesters' demands

When is it sensible to use defer instead of submit?

The words defer and submit can be used in similar contexts, but defer implies a voluntary yielding or submitting out of respect or reverence for or deference and affection toward another.

I defer to your expertise in these matters

When is relent a more appropriate choice than submit?

While in some cases nearly identical to submit, relent implies a yielding through pity or mercy by one who holds the upper hand.

finally relented and let the children stay up late

When might succumb be a better fit than submit?

Although the words succumb and submit have much in common, succumb implies weakness and helplessness to the one that gives way or an overwhelming power to the opposing force.

a stage actor succumbing to the lure of Hollywood

When would yield be a good substitute for submit?

The meanings of yield and submit largely overlap; however, yield may apply to any sort or degree of giving way before force, argument, persuasion, or entreaty.

yields too easily in any argument

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 submit The issue was not mentioned in the official report on the Danish Realm submitted to parliament on February 28, 2024, though threats to Greenland from China and Russia were. Morten Høi Jensen, The Dial, 19 June 2025 In that effort, the school earlier this spring submitted a waiver to the governing body NCAA to move up from the Football Championship Subdivision, FCS, as the Hornets have been buzzing with activity on campus. Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 18 June 2025 Judge James Boasberg will offer his opinion once all follow-up submissions are submitted over the summer. Mackenzie France, Boston Herald, 18 June 2025 Applications will be reviewed in the order they are submitted. Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 7 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for submit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for submit
Verb
  • Most of the resulting plants succumbed to rust; the few that made it were crossed with one another to produce the next generation.
    Elizabeth Kolbert, New Yorker, 23 June 2025
  • Don’t succumb to the urge to overfertilize, which leads to other problems. 4.
    Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 June 2025
Verb
  • Left-hander José Castillo surrendered RBI singles to Eli White and Nick Allen.
    Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 25 June 2025
  • Dominic Canzone’s sixth-inning home run was the seventh run Ober gave up, marking the second time in three starts that Ober has surrendered seven runs.
    Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 24 June 2025
Verb
  • At the time, the Trump Administration was attempting to negotiate a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia, with terms that heavily favored Putin: Ukraine would concede all the territory that Russia had occupied and give up its effort to join NATO.
    Joshua Yaffa, New Yorker, 23 June 2025
  • Luckily for Boca, Auckland has conceded an average of eight goals per game in this tournament.
    Joseph O'Sullivan, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Submit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/submit. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on submit

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