KNUCKLE UNDER Synonyms: 54 Similar and Opposite Words

knuckle under

verb

Definition of knuckle under

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to surrender

to yield to the control or power of enemy forces the remote outpost was overrun and forced to knuckle under

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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 knuckle under 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 Some owners show their mettle for a spell, then find adequate reason to knuckle under; others have no intention of even pretending to do what is hard or what is right. — David Remnick, New Yorker, 29 May 2026 Everyone, including the media, knuckles under. — Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 24 Feb. 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for knuckle under

Verb

One boy, 12, succumbed to the heat and passed out, with EMS medics and police rushing to help him, according to PIX 11.

— Julian Roberts-Grmela, New York Daily News, 4 July 2026
On Thursday at Wimbledon, a couple of players were unable to do so, succumbing to Nadal’s Law.

— Ava Wallace, New York Times, 2 July 2026

Definition of succumb

Verb

In a friendly in Tokyo last October, Brazil surrendered a two-goal halftime lead and watched Japan pull ahead for an eventual 3-2 victory.

— Andrew Greif, NBC news, 30 June 2026
More than 700 dogs remain unaccounted for Investigators have reviewed records showing that 918 dogs had been surrendered and transferred to Miranda’s Rescue from January 2025 to April 2026, Honsal said.

— Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 30 June 2026

Definition of surrender

Verb

The case will be submitted to the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office for review.

— Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 7 July 2026
Should the Council decline, if Unite NY then submits at least another 15,000 signatures, the matter will go to the ballot.

— New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 6 July 2026