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 Short enough to read in a single sitting, Sara Gran’s chilling story of an architect succumbing to demonic possession will leave readers stunned and unsettled. — David Faris, TheWeek, 23 Oct. 2026 Making a brief trip to his native Gotham before production of his next movie begins, Matt makes the mistake of succumbing to the advances of a gorgeous young woman on the dance floor of a nightclub. — Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 21 Oct. 2026 These rosy reveries gradually darken as Wilde remembers succumbing to hedonism, deceit, debt, and disgrace. — Hannah Aizenman, New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2026 At the time, despite receiving rave reviews, the Scottish actor was succumbing to complications from AIDS. — Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 28 Sep. 2026 But rather than succumbing to any one style, Lam developed a unique voice shaped by surrealism, cubism and his heritage as the son of a Chinese immigrant father and a mixed-race mother. — Jane Wooldridge, Miami Herald, 24 Sep. 2026 The movie ends with Bryan successfully getting his package to the scientists working on a cure, but shortly thereafter succumbing to his infection, turning into an increasingly grotesque (though conflicted) monster and killing them all. — Joshua Rivera, Vulture, 21 Sep. 2026 The stone never does talk to Larry, and Dillard ends that story by succumbing to her faith in the nothingness. — Isabel Fattal, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2026 He was carried out of the ring on a stretcher; his body finally succumbing to complete exhaustion. — Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for succumbing

Verb

Vereb, 72, appeared at the Allegheny County Courthouse on Thursday, submitting a guilty plea after being accused of defrauding thousands of pet owners over several years while operating funeral homes in Hazelwood and Harrison Township.

— Meghan Schiller, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
Malek also faces charges for allegedly submitting fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications in 2021.

— Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of submitting

Verb

The Steel Curtain is back, surrendering just six TD passes all season.

— Bill Reinhard, New York Daily News, 22 Oct. 2026
Tehran fears that surrendering its maritime leverage first would invite fresh demands; Washington worries that easing pressure would reward coercion without securing lasting constraints on Iran’s nuclear program.

— Ali Vaez, Time, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of surrendering

Verb

At the same time, Harris, closer in age to his part than the women, moves and sounds like the old cowboys, with an affecting note of sorrow — the lion dying, and dying with regrets — sounding throughout his performance.

— Sara Holdren, Vulture, 19 Oct. 2026
Amaya says researchers have already seen evidence of sea birds dying in response to warmer water temperatures along the coast.

— Ava Berger, NPR, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of dying

Verb

In 2025, de Leest was named the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year after conceding 19 goals in 21 games, including six clean sheets.

— Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 17 Oct. 2026
Hollywood executives at a panel featuring UTA, Gold House, Lionsgate and HYBE saw an opening for Asian talent and stories rooted in specific cultures, while conceding that getting projects funded is still a struggle.

— Ophélie Surcouf, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of conceding

Verb

With the recent proliferation of agents and their ability to comparison shop for higher-yielding investments (just like buying a sweater), financial stocks have taken a hit.

— Alexa LoMonaco, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026
Its materials describe every decision as traceable and explainable, with the same file yielding the same answer.

— Ethan Stone, Sacbee.com, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of yielding

Verb

In the film, Carrie impales Margaret (Piper Laurie) with flying kitchen knives, crucified within a door frame, before perishing herself.

— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 21 Oct. 2026
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