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
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Recent Examples of succumbs
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
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
-
Director Harry Lighton transposed the story from the 1970s to the present, casting a hulking Alexander Skarsgård as the gorgeous and emotionally remote biker Ray, and Melling as the shy, diminutive parking attendant who submits himself to Ray.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
20 Feb. 2026
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Per state law, the district already submits annual financial and compliance audits performed by an external firm, which have on occasion revealed things such as payroll lapses and contract overpayment.—
Melissa Brown,
Chalkbeat,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Andrew surrenders his Duke of York title.—
Emma Banks,
InStyle,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Peter then surrenders to Catherine, who demands his explanation for going AWOL.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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When their son Hamnet dies suddenly, Agnes and William are thrown into unimaginable grief, which the Bard then channels into arguably the most influential play of all time.—
Brian Tallerico,
Vulture,
28 Feb. 2026
-
For every elderly Eastern European resident who dies or moves out, a Latin takes his place.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Going into Wednesday’s games, the Lakers rank 27th in opposing field goal percentage and 24th in defensive rating, an estimate of the amount of points a team concedes across a 100-possession span.—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
5 Feb. 2026
-
McDermott avoids houseplants for a simple house but concedes that any small, tidy plant that doesn't require much upkeep would be fine.—
Lee Wallender,
The Spruce,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The fridge yields a bag of sturdy carrots, some garlic, a jar of mustard, and a bunch of cilantro (but a quick trip to the store could solve a lack of these ingredients).—
Rebecca Firkser,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
25 Feb. 2026
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Although simple, this formula yields a moist, buttery pound cake, with a golden brown crust.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The joyous gallows humor and horror-movie commentary of old are gone, and some inspired working-in of new technology falls apart.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
28 Feb. 2026
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The city cannot gamble with our care by pushing us onto a new plan that falls short for people it was supposed to protect.—
MaryAnn Berto,
New York Daily News,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Every soldier Harry would have saved on a transport during the war perishes too.—
Margaret Heidenry,
Vanity Fair,
24 Dec. 2025
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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 2 Mar. 2026.
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