1
as in submits
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in surrenders
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 dies
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 falls
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
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 succumbs
The 11-year-old titular character in Hamnet, up for Best Picture, succumbs to the plague.
—
Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2026
The Shakespearean classic focuses on Macbeth, a Scottish general who makes his prophecy of becoming king a reality but then succumbs to madness.
—Alyson Rodriguez, Dallas Morning News, 29 Jan. 2026
Her sexuality is a source of conflict for her family, and the pressure leads to the painful breakup with her girlfriend, Rosie (Jess Gabor), who succumbs to family expectations.
—Robert Lang, Deadline, 17 Dec. 2025
Live, the band’s cataclysmic volume precludes close observation, and melodic detail succumbs to feedback like dust caught in an exploding star’s stratosphere.
—Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 28 Nov. 2025
Soon after, as Judith starts to recover, Hamnet tragically succumbs to the contagious disease.
—Nathan Smith, Time, 26 Nov. 2025
If someone succumbs to the heat, promptly relocate them to a cool, shaded location.
—Bay Area Weather Report, Mercury News, 23 Sep. 2025
And when that fish, in turn, succumbs to the claws of a bald eagle, its DDT dense meat becomes a poisonous lunch for an oblivious bird.
—Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 3 Sep. 2025
The community's willingness to proactively strengthen its economic foundations today will determine whether crypto fulfills its promise as robust, trusted global infrastructure, or succumbs when faced with inevitable systemic stress.
—Mark R. Weaver, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2026
The Shakespearean classic focuses on Macbeth, a Scottish general who makes his prophecy of becoming king a reality but then succumbs to madness.
—Alyson Rodriguez, Dallas Morning News, 29 Jan. 2026
Her sexuality is a source of conflict for her family, and the pressure leads to the painful breakup with her girlfriend, Rosie (Jess Gabor), who succumbs to family expectations.
—Robert Lang, Deadline, 17 Dec. 2025
Live, the band’s cataclysmic volume precludes close observation, and melodic detail succumbs to feedback like dust caught in an exploding star’s stratosphere.
—Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 28 Nov. 2025
Soon after, as Judith starts to recover, Hamnet tragically succumbs to the contagious disease.
—Nathan Smith, Time, 26 Nov. 2025
If someone succumbs to the heat, promptly relocate them to a cool, shaded location.
—Bay Area Weather Report, Mercury News, 23 Sep. 2025
And when that fish, in turn, succumbs to the claws of a bald eagle, its DDT dense meat becomes a poisonous lunch for an oblivious bird.
—Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 3 Sep. 2025
The community's willingness to proactively strengthen its economic foundations today will determine whether crypto fulfills its promise as robust, trusted global infrastructure, or succumbs when faced with inevitable systemic stress.
—Mark R. Weaver, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for succumbs
Verb
-
Each year, the task force submits a report to Congress outlining gaps in research and highlighting areas where more focus is needed.—
Jacqueline Howard,
CNN Money,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Will biannual bombing campaigns be employed until Iran submits to American demands?—
Jonathan Chait,
The Atlantic,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Robert Simmons surrenders to police following a seven-hour standoff.—
Julie Sharp,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
-
But Trump on Friday said that the United States wouldn’t end the war until Iran surrenders unconditionally.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Several seconds later, my character dies on the grass (right alongside the clearly visible script).—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States and it’s estimated that one person dies from cardiovascular disease every 34 seconds.—
Jacqueline Howard,
CNN Money,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Although Art Recognition has collaborated with institutions like the Kunsthaus Zürich, Popovici concedes that galleries have little incentive to embrace technology that might cast doubt over their collections.—
Oscar Holland,
CNN Money,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Sam, a food stylist, concedes that being in a wealthy suburban enclave may have led her to be a little more brash than usual.—
Nora DeLigter,
Curbed,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
That sent Treasury yields upward in the bond market, along with the higher-than-expected update on inflation at the wholesale level.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
19 Mar. 2026
-
That sent Treasury yields upward in the bond market, along with the higher-than-expected update on inflation at the wholesale level.—
Stan Choe,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The rules of the game state that, if a head of a household falls, the next person in succession must take their place and fight, or their entire family line will get blown up by Satan.—
Jada Yuan,
Vulture,
14 Mar. 2026
-
By the time the curtain falls, dozens of audience members have become part of the show.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Every soldier Harry would have saved on a transport during the war perishes too.—
Margaret Heidenry,
Vanity Fair,
24 Dec. 2025
-
Factory ships deplete fisheries in a matter of years and an inordinate amount of sea life also perishes in their nets.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
12 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Succumbs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/succumbs. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
