1
as in submitting
to cease resistance (as to another's arguments, demands, or control)
he finally succumbed and let his wife get rid of his dilapidated easy chair
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in surrendering
to give up and cease resistance (as to a liking, temptation, or habit)
refused to succumb to her fears and defiantly walked through the dark cemetery
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in dying
to stop living
the patient lay so still and pale that everyone thought he had succumbed, and then he opened his eyes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in falling
to yield to the control or power of enemy forces
the doctor worked tirelessly until finally he, too, succumbed to the fever
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of succumbing
And across the board, officers with stronger EQ are better at building informant networks, de-escalating tense scenes, and sustaining long-term careers without succumbing to burnout.
—
Kevin Kruse, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
The man sitting next to me was beginning to nod off, perhaps succumbing to a post-cookie sugar crash.
—Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 16 Sep. 2025
Army Archerd of Variety shocked Hollywood in breaking the story that Rock Hudson was succumbing to AIDS.
—Peter Bart, Deadline, 11 Sep. 2025
What was weird was that this snake had raised its head and spread a hood before succumbing to the gardening implement (which was definitely not normal for Missouri).
—Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 10 Sep. 2025
In late July, Kwame’s brother, Jabari, was also euthanized after succumbing to arthritis.
—Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2025
The Californian took the first set against Ekaterina Alexandrova at last year’s tournament and had her vastly more experienced Russian opponent on the ropes on several occasions before eventually succumbing.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2025
The victim was hospitalized in intensive care before succumbing to the infection, which was believed to have been contracted while water-skiing days before on the Lake of the Ozarks in central Missouri, Fox News Digital previously reported.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 23 Aug. 2025
Former Fed Chair Arthur Burns has been widely blamed for allowing the painful inflation of that era to accelerate by succumbing to pressure from President Richard Nixon to keep rates low heading into the 1972 election.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 22 Aug. 2025
Kevin Kruse, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
The man sitting next to me was beginning to nod off, perhaps succumbing to a post-cookie sugar crash.
—Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 16 Sep. 2025
Army Archerd of Variety shocked Hollywood in breaking the story that Rock Hudson was succumbing to AIDS.
—Peter Bart, Deadline, 11 Sep. 2025
What was weird was that this snake had raised its head and spread a hood before succumbing to the gardening implement (which was definitely not normal for Missouri).
—Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 10 Sep. 2025
In late July, Kwame’s brother, Jabari, was also euthanized after succumbing to arthritis.
—Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2025
The Californian took the first set against Ekaterina Alexandrova at last year’s tournament and had her vastly more experienced Russian opponent on the ropes on several occasions before eventually succumbing.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2025
The victim was hospitalized in intensive care before succumbing to the infection, which was believed to have been contracted while water-skiing days before on the Lake of the Ozarks in central Missouri, Fox News Digital previously reported.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 23 Aug. 2025
Former Fed Chair Arthur Burns has been widely blamed for allowing the painful inflation of that era to accelerate by succumbing to pressure from President Richard Nixon to keep rates low heading into the 1972 election.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 22 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for succumbing
Verb
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Ukraine has been submitting films for the international feature category since 1997 but has yet to secure a nomination.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
14 Sep. 2025
-
Silva is coming off a dominant performance at UFC 314, submitting Bryce Mitchell in the second round.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
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After prominent political activist Charlie Kirk was killed at a speaking event at a Utah university last week, an intense, 30-plus-hour manhunt for a suspect in the shooting ended with him peacefully surrendering at a local sheriff’s office, accompanied by his parents.—
Lauren Mascarenhas,
CNN Money,
19 Sep. 2025
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As your celestial ruler, Venus, takes a dip in your sleepy 12th house of resting, retreating and surrendering to the ebb and flow of your spirit, you’re encouraged to slow down.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Wilson's dying body was pulled inside the home by the family and restrained with his own handcuffs.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
17 Sep. 2025
-
As much of a character as any of the humans on the series, pup Eddie — played by Jack Russell terrier Moose — lived a long life, dying in 2006 at age 16.—
Kate Hogan,
PEOPLE,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
After conceding twice in the first 31 minutes, things could have become ugly.—
Jay Harris,
New York Times,
21 Sep. 2025
-
The club has two wins, two draws, and four losses on the campaign, scoring 11 goals this season but conceding 13, resulting in a minus-two goal differential.—
Kilty Cleary,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The team's offense has played a big part in its success, yielding 16 goals.—
Ben Verbrugge,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
-
And while hotel pizzas are typically nothing to write home about, the versions here, made with from-scratch dough, are baked in a blazing-hot brick oven—yielding an irresistibly thin and crunchy crust.—
Katie Chang,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Crafted in Ireland, the coach features dark brown panels adorned with golden scrollwork and a gilded roof, offering shelter from the light rain falling over Berkshire.—
Amanda Castro
Hannah Parry
Shane Croucher
Jack Royston,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
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With the last night of Hanukkah and Christmas Eve falling on the same day this year – something that rarely happens – the reverend and rabbi choose to offer a joint service for their congregations.—
Emlyn Travis,
Entertainment Weekly,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But rather than bowing to Trump’s pressure campaign, analysts say, Chinese leaders are using an app cherished by the US president and millions of Americans as leverage to extract other, far more consequential concessions.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
20 Sep. 2025
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Demerzel gasps, and for once Day isn’t preening in the mirror but bowing his head.—
JP Mangalindan,
Time,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The boys didn't always survive their adventures, with one perishing from a snake bite and another drowning in a Bolivian flood.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
17 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Succumbing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/succumbing. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.
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