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1
to cease resistance (as to another's arguments, demands, or control)
- he finally succumbed and let his wife get rid of his dilapidated easy chair
- blink,
- bow,
- budge,
- capitulate,
- concede,
- give in,
- knuckle under,
- quit,
- relent,
- submit,
- surrender,
- yield
- battle,
- breast,
- combat,
- confront,
- counter,
- defy,
- face,
- meet,
- object,
- oppose,
- repel
2
to give up and cease resistance (as to a liking, temptation, or habit)
- refused to succumb to her fears and defiantly walked through the dark cemetery
- battle,
- breast,
- combat,
- confront,
- counter,
- defy,
- face,
- fight,
- meet,
- object,
- oppose,
- repel
3
to stop living
- the patient lay so still and pale that everyone thought he had succumbed, and then he opened his eyes
- check out,
- conk (out),
- croak
-
[slang],
- decease,
- demise,
- depart,
- die,
- drop,
- end,
- exit,
- expire,
- fall,
- flatline,
- go,
- kick in
-
[slang],
- kick off
-
[slang],
- part,
- pass (on),
- pass away,
- peg out
-
[chiefly British],
- perish,
- pop off,
- step out
4
to yield to the control or power of enemy forces
- the doctor worked tirelessly until finally he, too, succumbed to the fever
Frequently Asked Questions About succumb
How does the verb succumb differ from other similar words?
Some common synonyms of succumb are capitulate, defer, relent, submit, and yield. While all these words mean "to give way to someone or something that one can no longer resist," 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 could capitulate be used to replace succumb?
Although the words capitulate and succumb have much in common, 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
In what contexts can defer take the place of succumb?
While in some cases nearly identical to succumb, 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 succumb?
The words relent and succumb are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, relent implies a yielding through pity or mercy by one who holds the upper hand.
finally relented and let the children stay up late
Where would submit be a reasonable alternative to succumb?
The synonyms submit and succumb are sometimes interchangeable, but 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 would yield be a good substitute for succumb?
The meanings of yield and succumb 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
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Time Traveler for succumb
The first known use of succumb was in 1604
See more words from the same year