1
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of succumbing
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
Regretfully, locally foxgloves only last through spring and early summer before succumbing to the heat and humidity of the hot months.
—Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 May 2026
Mullins, 26, died on the floor of the store, succumbing to his wounds before paramedics arrived.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2026
Parker was also fighting tuberculosis at the time, succumbing to the disease just a few months after the battle.
—Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 18 Apr. 2026
Shepard uses her last ounce of strength to kill the final hitman before succumbing to her injuries.
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
In a dramatic departure from the novels, Kay and Dorothy’s father died in an armed robbery, rather than succumbing to leukemia.
—Max Gao, HollywoodReporter, 19 Mar. 2026
People are over-relying on the technology, and even succumbing to the illusion that the car is the one driving, said Scott Moura, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at UC Berkeley.
—Rachel Swan, San Francisco Chronicle, 17 Mar. 2026
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
Regretfully, locally foxgloves only last through spring and early summer before succumbing to the heat and humidity of the hot months.
—Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 May 2026
Mullins, 26, died on the floor of the store, succumbing to his wounds before paramedics arrived.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2026
Parker was also fighting tuberculosis at the time, succumbing to the disease just a few months after the battle.
—Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 18 Apr. 2026
Shepard uses her last ounce of strength to kill the final hitman before succumbing to her injuries.
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
In a dramatic departure from the novels, Kay and Dorothy’s father died in an armed robbery, rather than succumbing to leukemia.
—Max Gao, HollywoodReporter, 19 Mar. 2026
People are over-relying on the technology, and even succumbing to the illusion that the car is the one driving, said Scott Moura, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at UC Berkeley.
—Rachel Swan, San Francisco Chronicle, 17 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for succumbing
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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Following a brief standoff, Puscasu was taken into custody after surrendering to police.—
Jeramie Bizzle,
CBS News,
11 May 2026
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This spring, the Japanese art of surrendering to the chef’s hand is experiencing a renaissance in W1.—
Rachel Ingram,
Robb Report,
10 May 2026
Verb
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The Lions found their lifeline in the dying moments of the match.—
Kyle Foley,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 May 2026
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In response to the CBS News reports, Oz announced in March an initiative to decertify any hospice providers that are found to be defrauding taxpayers by stealing the identities of people not in hospice or by overbilling for those who are dying.—
Kathryn Watson,
CBS News,
13 May 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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In Harris’ absence, the sprawling field of candidates has been a good and healthy thing, yielding the most competitive California gubernatorial contest in a quarter century.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 May 2026
-
Houston starter Kai-Wei Teng (1-3) held the Reds scoreless for the first three innings but was lifted after yielding four straight hits to begin the fourth.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 May 2026
Verb
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Oakland's housing market is seeing some of the steepest price declines in the country, with home values falling sharply as sellers, buyers and real estate agents navigate a difficult market.—
Kenny Choi,
CBS News,
12 May 2026
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Despite this spark of hope, by his teens, Ian’s dreams of becoming a soccer player are falling apart as rejection, oppression and his own internal rage take their toll.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
12 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
Verb
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Singh raised his second straight half-century off just 23 balls with eight fours and a six while Iyer brought up his fifty of 31 balls and smacked Thakur four two consecutive sixes before perishing when Dhir took a stunning catch at deep mid-wicket.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
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If the Tribune cannot find the story in the tragic events of a young, dedicated firefighter perishing in an arson fire while searching for victims to rescue, maybe leave this story for the journalists who managed to treat the victims of this story with dignity.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Succumbing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/succumbing. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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