1
as in succumbed
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in surrendered
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knuckled under
Verb
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That was under former chairman Jeff Shi, who departed the club at the end of 2025 as decision-makers at owner Fosun succumbed to mounting pressure.—
Steve Madeley,
New York Times,
12 Feb. 2026 -
Many white residents in East Flatbush had succumbed to racist fearmongering by real-estate speculators and sold their home for a fraction of the assessed value; the speculators sold those homes to Black buyers at exorbitant interest rates.—
Michael Powell,
The Atlantic,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Concerned about the safety of two children in the home, Aljorna and Sosa-Celis surrendered.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Arizona recently surrendered about a third of its allotted supply of the river through both mandatory and compensated voluntary cuts to keep Lake Mead from going dry.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Tips submitted anonymously to the hotline may be eligible for a reward of up to $25,000.—
Robert A. Cronkleton,
Kansas City Star,
11 Feb. 2026
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Last spring, Illinois lawmakers advanced a bill that would have mandated additional oversight, including a homeschool declaration form to be submitted to local districts.—
Kate Armanini,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Cortina Mayor Gianluca Lorenzi received death threats after centuries-old trees were felled to make way for a $131 million bobsledding track.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
9 Feb. 2026
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Afterward, Agnes and I were felled by the kind of hunger that overtakes only those who have exerted themselves in cold weather.—
Boris Fishman,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The invitation never came, and Zelensky conceded in our interview that basic questions related to the document remain unresolved.—
Simon Shuster,
The Atlantic,
12 Feb. 2026
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Malinowski conceded the congressional special election primary to progressive activist Analilia Mejia on Tuesday after Mejia notched 889 votes more than Malinowski in her comeback win.—
Molly Parks,
The Washington Examiner,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Their heads are bowed, their fingers nimbly working gargantuan pale orbs of mochi.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
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The starting 11 for Woodrow Wilson soccer team bowed their heads during a moment of silence for their slain teammate Wornan Padilla Garcia before their game against the Mesquite Poteet Pirates, February 6, 2026.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
7 Feb. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Knuckled under.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knuckled%20under. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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