1
as in to succumb
to cease resistance (as to another's arguments, demands, or control)
encouraged her to stand firm and not knuckle under to political pressure
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to surrender
to yield to the control or power of enemy forces
the remote outpost was overrun and forced to knuckle under
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of knuckle under
Everyone, including the media, knuckles under.
—
Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 24 Feb. 2026
That’s a clear message to others to get in line and knuckle under — or else.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 14 Jan. 2026
How much of this is a bluff designed to get Senate Democrats to knuckle under and vote to reopen the government and how much of this is wishcasting by MAGA?
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 10 Oct. 2025
Those that didn’t knuckle under — or otherwise incurred Trump’s wrath — got hit harder earlier this month.
—Paul Wiseman, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2025
The front lines of our legal edifice have been divided and conquered, with premier law firms knuckling under and meekly promising to shut up and work for Trump, while the Supreme Court carefully pulls its punches to avoid a showdown.
—Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Apr. 2025
Of course, Cruz knuckled under a little while later.
—James Hohmann, Washington Post, 9 July 2024
Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 24 Feb. 2026
That’s a clear message to others to get in line and knuckle under — or else.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 14 Jan. 2026
How much of this is a bluff designed to get Senate Democrats to knuckle under and vote to reopen the government and how much of this is wishcasting by MAGA?
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 10 Oct. 2025
Those that didn’t knuckle under — or otherwise incurred Trump’s wrath — got hit harder earlier this month.
—Paul Wiseman, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2025
The front lines of our legal edifice have been divided and conquered, with premier law firms knuckling under and meekly promising to shut up and work for Trump, while the Supreme Court carefully pulls its punches to avoid a showdown.
—Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Apr. 2025
Of course, Cruz knuckled under a little while later.
—James Hohmann, Washington Post, 9 July 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knuckle under
Verb
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One of the patients later succumbed to their injuries and was pronounced dead, officials said.—
Sam Gillette,
PEOPLE,
15 May 2026
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When Montiel had it, doctors could only provide supportive care, as her body either fought off the virus, or succumbed to it.—
Charles Trepany,
USA Today,
11 May 2026
Verb
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No one ate up more innings than Klein, who struck out two and surrendered one of the two hits the Dodgers gave up across two innings.—
Liana Handler,
Los Angeles Times,
16 May 2026
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Brown again tossed four shutout innings, surrendering just one hit while walking one and striking out seven on 65 pitches.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
15 May 2026
Verb
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And doing it manually — finding every broker, submitting every opt-out form, rechecking every few months — takes hours.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
16 May 2026
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The family began working with a contractor in March 2024, submitted permits by June, and officially began construction in early July, before wrapping up about a month later.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
16 May 2026
Verb
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Everyone in the Democrat Party in Illinois was conceding the race to Republican Attorney General Jack Ryan.—
Gary Franks,
Hartford Courant,
14 May 2026
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But the team still gives up too many goals, with nine goals conceded over the past three games.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
14 May 2026
Verb
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An inspector can identify visible cracking, uneven floors, sticking doors and windows, and signs of bowing walls.—
Ryan Brennan
May 15,
Charlotte Observer,
15 May 2026
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And across all networks, just six new shows bow in the fall — with most waiting for post-football homes.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Knuckle under.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knuckle%20under. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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