SUCCUMBING Synonyms: 115 Similar and Opposite Words

succumbing

verb

present participle of succumb

as in submitting

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

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as in surrendering

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

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as in dying

to stop living the patient lay so still and pale that everyone thought he had succumbed, and then he opened his eyes

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as in falling

to yield to the control or power of enemy forces the doctor worked tirelessly until finally he, too, succumbed to the fever

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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 succumbing There have been some close calls, with the closest being a 75-74 defeat in Game 2 of last season’s opening round, a game where Golden State held multiple large leads before succumbing late to a Minnesota comeback. — Christian Babcock, Mercury News, 18 Aug. 2026 Walz ended his campaign for a third term in January after succumbing to scrutiny about systemic fraud uncovered in his state’s social services program. — Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 17 Aug. 2026 Once the veteran players and most of the top seeds vanished from the Canadian Open, succumbing to injury and upset, the stakes of the tournament in Montreal took on a new edge. — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026 There are only 150 to 200 cases of Vibrio vulnificus infections in the United States each year, but the mortality rate is high, with 1 in 5 people succumbing to the infection. — Bill Sullivan, The Conversation, 11 Aug. 2026 In November 2008, after surviving two months longer than it was designed to, the Phoenix Mars Lander fell silent, succumbing to the harsh Martian winter. — Tariq Malik, Space.com, 4 Aug. 2026 So far there’s no sign of that, and time is running out, although to its credit the EU, with its Industrial Accelerator Act, wants urgent action to save local automakers from succumbing to ballooning Chinese sales. — Neil Winton, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026 His father was by his side for the rise, but his father never saw this fight happen, succumbing to his failing lungs. — Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 25 July 2026 The nightmare grows more and more fierce as guests venture through the haunted house, encountering ferocious Deadites around every turn before succumbing to the evil forces themselves. — Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 21 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for succumbing

Verb

The most likely outcomes in my mind are Makhachev controlling Garry for the majority of the fight and winning a clear decision, or perhaps submitting him.

— Brett Appley, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026
The putrid odors, insects and rodents coming from the millions of pounds of spoiled food have plagued surrounding neighborhoods, with residents submitting thousands of complaints to regulators.

— Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of submitting

Verb

Miami starter Sandy Alcantara (13-7) came in with a 20-inning scoreless streak and stretched it to 25 before surrendering the lone run in the sixth.

— August 14, Miami Herald, 14 Aug. 2026
Orlando City’s Leagues Cup campaign came to an end Wednesday night, with Orlando winning the penalty shootout 5-3 against Atlético de San Luis after surrendering a 2-0 lead late in the game.

— Kyle Foley, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of surrendering

Verb

Released two years after methadone treatment regulations were modernized, the toolkit only passingly mentions the medication known to vastly reduce someone’s odds of dying from opioid overdose.

— Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 17 Aug. 2026
Shakur remains a cultural icon and is considered one of the most influential and versatile rappers of all time, despite dying at 25.

— CBS News, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of dying

Verb

But keeping their promotion rivals at bay most definitely was, Parkinson’s men conceding 24 times in those dozen games, 16 of which came on Welsh soil.

— Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026
The Bulls got on the scoreboard straight after halftime, ending New Zealand's streak without conceding at 124 minutes.

— ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of conceding

Verb

But after yielding a single to start the bottom of the fourth, King embarked on a run of eight consecutive outs.

— Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Aug. 2026
Then there is Justin Wrobleski, so brilliant as an All-Star the first half of the year who has hit the skids the second half with four losses in his last five starts, yielding nine homers and not making it out of the fourth inning in his last three.

— Bill Madden, New York Daily News, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of yielding

Verb

Peltz weighs deal for Wendy’s Nelson Peltz’s Trian Fund is assembling a group that could bid to take Wendy’s private as the chain faces declining sales, falling traffic, and restaurant closures.

— Phil Wahba, Fortune, 19 Aug. 2026
The boring rosters, the passive-aggressive press conferences, the endless parade of mediocre seasons — cresting and falling with an inexplicable 2021 and 2026 — has been brutal to watch.

— Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of falling

Verb

At Night will have a North American premiere in Toronto after bowing in Locarno.

— Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 4 Aug. 2026
Dharmendra Pradhan announced his resignation on Saturday, bowing to mounting pressure after tens of thousands of students and supporters took to the streets demanding his removal and sweeping reforms to India’s examination system.

— Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 25 July 2026

Definition of bowing

Verb

This summer has been a deadly one in Europe, with over 10,000 people perishing in the extreme heat over just a few weeks.

— Morgan Simon, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Julie Chen Moonves shares her thoughts on that wild Big Brother premiere, including Rachel Reilly perishing in a volcano.

— Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 10 July 2026