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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to succumb
to cease resistance (as to another's arguments, demands, or control)
the father refused to surrender to his son's constant begging for a BB gun
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to resign
to give up (as a position of authority) formally
the aging queen refused to surrender the throne to her increasingly impatient heir
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to submit
to give up and cease resistance (as to a liking, temptation, or habit)
determined to give up smoking, she so far has not surrendered to her incessant desire to have a cigarette
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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 surrender
Sean Campbell, Sacbee.com, 23 June 2025
After five rounds of indirect negotiations, the White House had demanded strict limits on Iran’s nuclear program that, to Iranian officials, did in fact amount to surrender.
—Scott Peterson, Christian Science Monitor, 23 June 2025
Arkansas Online, 20 June 2025
Corporate clients and legal talent are deserting law firms that surrendered to Trump because the surrenders have brought into question the integrity of these firm’s managing partners.
—Robert B. Reich, Hartford Courant, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for surrender
Verb
In 30 pitches, Perkins surrendered just one baserunner and struck out two while sporting a 98-mph fastball, dangerous cutter and sweeper.
—Sean Campbell, Sacbee.com, 23 June 2025
After five rounds of indirect negotiations, the White House had demanded strict limits on Iran’s nuclear program that, to Iranian officials, did in fact amount to surrender.
—Scott Peterson, Christian Science Monitor, 23 June 2025
Noun
Europe's push for diplomacy is in sharp contrast to messages from Washington, with U.S. President Donald Trump openly weighing bombing Iran and calling for the unconditional surrender of the Iranian leadership.
—Arkansas Online, 20 June 2025
Corporate clients and legal talent are deserting law firms that surrendered to Trump because the surrenders have brought into question the integrity of these firm’s managing partners.
—Robert B. Reich, Hartford Courant, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for surrender
Recent Examples of Synonyms for surrender
Verb
-
Do it, talk to each other, ask questions, reach out to members, and remember that no one has ever relinquished power willingly, even for things as small as better hours, or more holiday time.—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
24 June 2025
-
Jean-Baptiste Voisin, chief strategy officer at LVMH, relinquished his responsibilities as head of LVMH Métiers d’Art and will now take on leadership of LVMH Media Research and Brand Image teams, previously helmed by Mathilde Delhoume, who is also taking on new responsibilities.—
Miles Socha,
Footwear News,
23 June 2025
Verb
-
Most of the resulting plants succumbed to rust; the few that made it were crossed with one another to produce the next generation.—
Elizabeth Kolbert,
New Yorker,
23 June 2025
-
Don’t succumb to the urge to overfertilize, which leads to other problems. 4.—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 June 2025
Verb
-
His third Cabinet resigned in January 2021 following a parliamentary report that found that as many as 10,000 families were forced to repay thousands of euros after they had been wrongly accused of welfare fraud.—
Adam Rasmi,
Time,
20 June 2025
-
Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200 has hired an administrator experienced in curriculum to be its new assistant superintendent for student learning to replace Laurie Fiorenza who resigned, effective June 30, without explanation in April.—
Bob Skolnik,
Chicago Tribune,
20 June 2025
Verb
-
Download the Vogue app and find our Style Advice section to submit your question.—
Laia Garcia-Furtado,
Vogue,
19 June 2025
-
Science Homecoming, a nonprofit that promotes public engagement by scientists, also offered free editorial feedback to any contributor who submitted a draft.—
John Drake,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2025
Verb
-
Starting June 26, guests can indulge with endless rounds of two appetizers at a time including Mozzarella Sticks, Onion Rings, Fried Pickles, Hatch Queso and Chips & Salsa.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
19 June 2025
-
That the shop has indulged families for decades speaks to its constancy.—
Mike Klingaman,
Baltimore Sun,
17 June 2025
Noun
-
Poirier failed to unify the title, losing to Khabib Nurmagomedov by submission at UFC 242 in September 2019.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2025
-
The 46th Annual News & Documentary Emmy Awards received more than 2200 submissions from the calendar year of 2024, and nominations were judged by a pool of more than 980 people from across the television and streaming/digital media news and documentary community.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
27 June 2025
Verb
-
The projection engine makes use of a large 0.47-inch DMD chip, and employs pixel-shifting to render 4K UHD resolution.—
Paul Ridden
June 25,
New Atlas,
25 June 2025
-
Last season also offered up so many reminders that the Mets are liable to render all this hand-wringing and historical perspective moot by late October or early November.—
Jerry Beach,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2025
Verb
-
Luckily for Boca, Auckland has conceded an average of eight goals per game in this tournament.—
Joseph O'Sullivan,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2025
-
At the time, the Trump Administration was attempting to negotiate a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia, with terms that heavily favored Putin: Ukraine would concede all the territory that Russia had occupied and give up its effort to join NATO.—
Joshua Yaffa,
New Yorker,
23 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Surrender.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surrender. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share