1
as in relinquishes
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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Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in succumbs
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
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3
as in resigns
to give up (as a position of authority) formally
the aging queen refused to surrender the throne to her increasingly impatient heir
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4
as in submits
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
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5
as in falls
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 indulges
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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as in submissions
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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Recent Examples of surrenders
Emma Banks, InStyle, 19 Feb. 2026
Peter then surrenders to Catherine, who demands his explanation for going AWOL.
—Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 31 Jan. 2026
Carrie Fisher and Bruno Kirby are the secret weapons, and Nora Ephron's script never surrenders to sentimentality.
—Bill Goodykoontz, USA Today, 15 Dec. 2025
And this year, Stinett said, numbers are trending up again, with owner surrenders estimated to track up 40% from last year.
—Erika I. Ritchie, Oc Register, 25 Nov. 2025
At crucial moments, however, one force surrenders to the other to produce an ambiguous collaboration.
—Elizabeth D. Samet, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2025
Dallas has given up the most passing yards in the league, and their secondary surrenders lots of open windows.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 24 Oct. 2025
Kelsey’s group has facilitated 234 face-to-face surrenders through its hotline, which counsels women who might want to surrender their babies, but just about 62 babies have been left in boxes since Kelsey started the organization, according to Kelly, the nurse and company representative.
—Alana Semuels, Time, 8 Oct. 2025
Order surrenders messily to disorder.
—Domenico Starnone, The Atlantic, 28 Sep. 2025
Marvin Hurst, CBS News, 18 Dec. 2025
These surrenders might occur because of unpreparedness or life changes.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2025
In 2024, eight babies were surrendered to Alabama, for instance, four of whom were hospital surrenders and four of whom were left in baby boxes.
—Alana Semuels, Time, 8 Oct. 2025
The new surrenders came after Nashville Police arrested a 17-year-old Antioch teen one day earlier in connection with the incident.
—Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 4 Sep. 2025
Here are three key surrenders to make before the season ends.
—Renessa Boley Layne, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
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
Carrie Fisher and Bruno Kirby are the secret weapons, and Nora Ephron's script never surrenders to sentimentality.
—Bill Goodykoontz, USA Today, 15 Dec. 2025
And this year, Stinett said, numbers are trending up again, with owner surrenders estimated to track up 40% from last year.
—Erika I. Ritchie, Oc Register, 25 Nov. 2025
At crucial moments, however, one force surrenders to the other to produce an ambiguous collaboration.
—Elizabeth D. Samet, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2025
Dallas has given up the most passing yards in the league, and their secondary surrenders lots of open windows.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 24 Oct. 2025
Kelsey’s group has facilitated 234 face-to-face surrenders through its hotline, which counsels women who might want to surrender their babies, but just about 62 babies have been left in boxes since Kelsey started the organization, according to Kelly, the nurse and company representative.
—Alana Semuels, Time, 8 Oct. 2025
Order surrenders messily to disorder.
—Domenico Starnone, The Atlantic, 28 Sep. 2025
Noun
During the year, the spring/summer opens the doors to a spike in pet surrenders.
—Marvin Hurst, CBS News, 18 Dec. 2025
These surrenders might occur because of unpreparedness or life changes.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2025
In 2024, eight babies were surrendered to Alabama, for instance, four of whom were hospital surrenders and four of whom were left in baby boxes.
—Alana Semuels, Time, 8 Oct. 2025
The new surrenders came after Nashville Police arrested a 17-year-old Antioch teen one day earlier in connection with the incident.
—Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 4 Sep. 2025
Here are three key surrenders to make before the season ends.
—Renessa Boley Layne, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for surrenders
Verb
-
Could this be the anarchic mind that emerges when the ego relinquishes its hold?—
Michael Pollan,
The Atlantic,
26 Jan. 2026
-
If a player chooses not to negotiate with the Panthers, that player will be unable to sign elsewhere, unless Carolina relinquishes his rights by not offering him a tender.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
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
Verb
-
Peter Attia resigns from CBS News Celebrity doctor Peter Attia has resigned from his new contributor position at CBS News following revelations about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Stephen Miran resigns from his White House post as chair of the Council of Economic Advisers, CNBC confirmed.—
Yeo Boon Ping,
CNBC,
4 Feb. 2026
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
-
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
-
Elsewhere, Fennell indulges a familiar impulse to shock, or at least to jolt us awake.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Raimi indulges Send Help’s gore and gross-out moments with the zest of someone returning to his cult-favorite roots.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Under the terms of the settlement, Vivint Solar will notify eligible consumers how to submit claims to take part in the $3 million restitution fund, as well as deadlines for making submissions.—
Rob Nikolewski,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Feb. 2026
-
In September 2025, a federal judge in Washington, DC, ruled that the DoD had properly reviewed DJI’s submissions before adding it to the list.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The audience is not privy to whether this tale is real or a fantasy, though either way, Haroun renders it beautifully in collaboration with cinematographer Mathieu Giombini.—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
19 Feb. 2026
-
The Montreal producer’s pearlescent new album renders heartbreak and obsession in patient waves of ambient, dub techno, and progressive house.—
Kiana Mickles,
Pitchfork,
17 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
Cite this Entry
“Surrenders.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surrenders. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
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