Synonyms of surrender

surrender 1 of 2

verb

sə-ˈren-dər 

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

• relinquish
• render
• deliver
• cede
• yield
• abandon
• transfer
• resign
• turn in
• lay down
• give up
• turn over
• hand over
• commit
• forfeit
• waive
• cough up
• entrust
• renounce
• release
• discard
• consign
• forsake
• desert
• shed
• part (with)
• abnegate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• keep
• retain
• withhold

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

• succumb
• submit
• concede
• capitulate
• bow
• budge
• relent
• yield
• quit
• give in
• acquiesce
• knuckle under
• blink
• say uncle
• throw in the towel
• defer

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• resist
• fight
• contend
• oppose
• meet
• confront
• face
• breast
• object
• combat
• defy
• counter
• hold off
• withstand
• repel
• battle
• thwart

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

• relinquish
• resign
• abdicate
• renounce
• cede
• deny
• step down (from)
• waive
• vacate
• abnegate
• step aside (from)
• abandon
• forsake
• abjure
• disavow
• disown
• disclaim
• yield
• demit
• give up
• hand over
• desert
• quit

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• assume
• claim
• appropriate
• seize
• confiscate
• protect
• take over
• defend
• secure
• arrogate
• guard
• usurp
• safeguard
• wrest

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

• succumb
• submit
• bow
• yield
• cave (in)
• give in
• cater (to)
• indulge
• gratify
• concede (to)
• acquiesce (to)
• wallow
• buckle (under)
• knuckle under
• give over (to)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• resist
• fight
• oppose
• confront
• meet
• face
• breast
• object
• combat
• defy
• counter
• repel
• reject
• withstand
• hold off
• thwart
• battle
• restrain
• check
• curb
• inhibit
• constrain
• stifle
• bridle

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

• succumb
• submit
• capitulate
• fall
• collapse
• relinquish
• give up
• bow
• give (in)
• knuckle under
• concede
• lose
• buckle
• cave (in)
• hand over
• fail
• fold

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• stand
• fight
• endure
• resist
• oppose
• win
• overcome
• withstand
• defy
• beat
• repel
• prevail
• triumph
• conquer
• buck

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

• indulge
• abandon
• yield
• give up
• deliver
• revel
• overdo
• bask
• overindulge
• roll
• luxuriate
• wallow

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• deny
• refrain (from)
• restrain
• check
• forgo
• eschew
• inhibit
• abstain (from)
• forbear

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• submission
• relinquishment
• capitulation
• acceptance
• submitting
• cession
• capture
• handover
• rendition
• capitulating
• compromise
• acquiescence
• reconciliation
• concession
• conciliation
• appeasement
• fall
• reconcilement

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• resistance

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

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

Recent Examples of surrender

Verb

Hezbollah, meanwhile, was under domestic and international pressure to surrender its remaining arsenal. —Abby Sewell, Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026

The idea that the Revolutionary Guard and Iranian armed forces should surrender their weapons in return for immunity is equally free of any objective correlative. —Fintan O’Toole, The New York Review of Books, 9 Apr. 2026

Noun

Charlie, although more sympathetic, is left reeling, and Pattinson, always at his best when his matinée-idol looks surrender to warpings of fear and anxiety, conducts a virtuosic symphony of shifting moods. —Justin Chang, New Yorker, 2 Apr. 2026

And those who find Georgia’s gun laws too permissive say installing weapon detectors everywhere is a form of surrender, accepting that society will be awash in guns and violence. —Jeff Amy, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2026