surrender 1 of 2

1
as in to relinquish
to give (something) over to the control or possession of another usually under duress the toddler surrendered the doll to her mother after a brief struggle the commander surrendered the garrison without having fired a single shot

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2
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5
as in to capitulate
to yield to the control or power of enemy forces General Robert E. Lee surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant on April 9, 1865, thus ending the Civil War

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6
as in to indulge
to give (oneself) over to something especially unrestrainedly laid-off workers who surrender themselves to despair will almost certainly never regain their footing

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surrender

2 of 2

noun

as in submission
the usually forced yielding of one's person or possessions to the control of another the police demanded the surrender of all hostages as a condition for allowing the hijackers safe passage out of the country

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word surrender different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of surrender are abandon, relinquish, resign, waive, and yield. While all these words mean "to give up completely," surrender implies a giving up after a struggle to retain or resist.

surrendered their claims

In what contexts can abandon take the place of surrender?

While the synonyms abandon and surrender are close in meaning, abandon stresses finality and completeness in giving up.

abandoned all hope

When might relinquish be a better fit than surrender?

The synonyms relinquish and surrender are sometimes interchangeable, but relinquish usually does not imply strong feeling but may suggest some regret, reluctance, or weakness.

relinquished her crown

When would resign be a good substitute for surrender?

The words resign and surrender are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, resign emphasizes voluntary relinquishment or sacrifice without struggle.

resigned her position

When can waive be used instead of surrender?

The meanings of waive and surrender largely overlap; however, waive implies conceding or forgoing with little or no compulsion.

waived the right to a trial by jury

When is it sensible to use yield instead of surrender?

In some situations, the words yield and surrender are roughly equivalent. However, yield implies concession or compliance or submission to force.

the troops yielded ground grudgingly

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 surrender
Verb
One of the runs King surrendered came on Aaron Judge’s 12th home run of the season. Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 6 May 2025 Beto O’Rourke shreds Chuck Schumer for ‘surrendering’ to Trump, Musk: ‘Get out of the way’ Robby Soave and Lindsey Granger discuss fmr. The Hill, 5 May 2025
Noun
The betrayal began with the quiet surrender of his predecessor, Alberto Fernández, whose government cloaked itself in progressive language, but failed to confront the powers that truly govern Argentina: corporate monopolies, foreign creditors, and judicial mafias. Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 May 2025 Free diving here is often a balance of persistence as well as surrender, but the kelp forest doesn’t ask for credentials, only a willingness to dive in. Avery Schuyler Nunn, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for surrender
Recent Examples of Synonyms for surrender
Verb
  • Last year, Sabalenka relinquished the Madrid Open title to Iga Świątek in the best WTA Tour match of the season.
    Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 3 May 2025
  • In the past month, many of these universities have been ordered to relinquish their academic independence, stripped of federal funds, had their students seized on the streets, and watched as faculty have begun an exodus to foreign academic institutions beyond the reach of the U.S. government.
    Drew Bernstein, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Over time, the dead spacecraft succumbed to aerodynamic drag, slowly losing altitude before dipping deeper into the atmosphere in recent weeks.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 8 May 2025
  • These are songs from a band that has not yet succumbed.
    Armond White, National Review, 7 May 2025
Verb
  • In 2013, Pope Benedict XVI resigned his papacy citing age and ailing health.
    Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 4 May 2025
  • The government declared a state of emergency, and Henry, who was never able to return to Haiti, resigned in April 2024.
    Dánica Coto, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2025
Verb
  • Alongside Spotify, Patreon has also submitted an iOS app update that allows creators to accept payments via non-Apple methods.
    Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 2 May 2025
  • McCormick-Morin has seen college dreams put on hold, as only 58% of eligible California high school seniors successfully submitted FAFSA applications for the upcoming school year, according to the California Student Aid Commission.
    Tom Hanson, CBS News, 1 May 2025
Verb
  • There’s a distinction between grappling with reality, however, and indulging unduly in cynicism.
    Thomas Drance, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025
  • Tickled by his enthusiasm, Mishra graciously indulged his demands.
    Ashlea Halpern, AFAR Media, 30 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • But if your company is handling hundreds of submissions weekly, with underwriters specializing in various areas, the need for such a tool becomes nearly unavoidable.
    Marcin Nowak, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025
  • Customers can bet on each fight to end by knockout or submission.
    Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 May 2025
Verb
  • This one, is rendered in moody, romantic tones of blue.
    José Criales-Unzueta, Vogue, 8 May 2025
  • At the same time, James and her peers helped students connect with experts in larger cities in professional fields; apply for admissions, grants and scholarships; and rendered whatever other assistance was needed.
    Doug Thompson, Arkansas Online, 8 May 2025
Verb
  • Arteta’s team conceded from a long throw and a corner against Bournemouth.
    James McNicholas, New York Times, 3 May 2025
  • Barca was clearly fatigued at the beginning of the meeting with the Italians and conceded two early goals.
    Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 3 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Surrender.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surrender. Accessed 15 May. 2025.

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