YIELD Synonyms: 314 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'yield' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of yield are capitulate , defer , relent , submit , and succumb . While all these words mean "to give way to someone or something that one can no longer resist," yield may apply to any sort or degree of giving way before force, argument, persuasion, or entreaty. // yields too easily in any argument

Q: When could 'capitulate' be used to replace 'yield'?

The words capitulate and yield are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, capitulate stresses the fact of ending all resistance and may imply either a coming to terms (as with an adversary) or hopelessness in the face of an irresistible opposing force. // officials capitulated to the protesters' demands

Q: When is it sensible to use 'defer' instead of 'yield'?

The synonyms defer and yield are sometimes interchangeable, but defer implies a voluntary yielding or submitting out of respect or reverence for or deference and affection toward another. // I defer to your expertise in these matters

Q: In what contexts can 'relent' take the place of 'yield'?

Although the words relent and yield have much in common, relent implies a yielding through pity or mercy by one who holds the upper hand. // finally relented and let the children stay up late

Q: When might 'submit' be a better fit than 'yield'?

In some situations, the words submit and yield are roughly equivalent. However, submit suggests full surrendering after resistance or conflict to the will or control of another. // a repentant sinner vowing to submit to the will of God

Q: When would 'succumb' be a good substitute for 'yield'?

While the synonyms succumb and yield are close in meaning, succumb implies weakness and helplessness to the one that gives way or an overwhelming power to the opposing force. // a stage actor succumbing to the lure of Hollywood

yield 1 of 2

verb

ˈyēld

Definition of yield

as in to succumb

to give up and cease resistance (as to a liking, temptation, or habit) I finally yielded to temptation and had a bowl of ice cream

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to give

to produce as revenue I expect that stock to yield at least 14% profit this year

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to submit

to cease resistance (as to another's arguments, demands, or control) after initially balking at the order, the soldier yielded when the commanding officer threatened a formal charge of insubordination

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to cause

to be the cause of (a situation, action, or state of mind) the sort of embarrassing question that seldom yields an honest answer

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to collapse

to fall down or in as a result of physical pressure the door soon yielded to the battering ram

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to relinquish

to give (something) over to the control or possession of another usually under duress refusing to yield the city to enemy troops

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to surrender

to give (oneself) over to something especially unrestrainedly she yielded herself to temptation and booked a month-long vacation in the Bahamas like she'd wanted to for years

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

yield

2 of 2

noun

as in revenue

an increase usually measured in money that comes from labor, business, or property the stock's yield has increased over the years

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in production

something produced by physical or intellectual effort wheat farmers were able to increase the yield per acre substantially

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in bounty

the total amount collected or obtained especially at one time the yield from the police department's buyback program for firearms was staggering

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb yield differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of yield are capitulate, defer, relent, submit, and succumb. While all these words mean "to give way to someone or something that one can no longer resist," yield may apply to any sort or degree of giving way before force, argument, persuasion, or entreaty.

yields too easily in any argument

When could capitulate be used to replace yield?

The words capitulate and yield are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, capitulate stresses the fact of ending all resistance and may imply either a coming to terms (as with an adversary) or hopelessness in the face of an irresistible opposing force.

officials capitulated to the protesters' demands

When is it sensible to use defer instead of yield?

The synonyms defer and yield are sometimes interchangeable, but defer implies a voluntary yielding or submitting out of respect or reverence for or deference and affection toward another.

I defer to your expertise in these matters

In what contexts can relent take the place of yield?

Although the words relent and yield have much in common, relent implies a yielding through pity or mercy by one who holds the upper hand.

finally relented and let the children stay up late

When might submit be a better fit than yield?

In some situations, the words submit and yield are roughly equivalent. However, submit suggests full surrendering after resistance or conflict to the will or control of another.

a repentant sinner vowing to submit to the will of God

When would succumb be a good substitute for yield?

While the synonyms succumb and yield are close in meaning, succumb implies weakness and helplessness to the one that gives way or an overwhelming power to the opposing force.

a stage actor succumbing to the lure of Hollywood

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 yield

Verb

The first day of Miami Dolphins practice yielded some big plays both offensively and defensively. — Miami Herald, 29 July 2026 Al Hilal and the Saudi Pro League would not represent that but would almost certainly yield a potentially transformative salary for a player who joined Everton two years ago on wages of about £60,000 a week. — Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 28 July 2026

Noun

New York — Rising oil prices, persistent inflation fears and shifting expectations for rate hikes are rattling the world’s largest bond market, sending Treasury yields higher and pushing up borrowing costs for consumers. — John Towfighi, CNN Money, 23 July 2026 The worry about inflation as a result of higher oil and gas prices has driven bond yields higher this week. — Steve Kopack, NBC news, 23 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for yield

Recent Examples of Synonyms for yield

Verb

His father was by his side for the rise, but his father never saw this fight happen, succumbing to his failing lungs.

— Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 25 July 2026
Lucas Digne forced his way into the France XI but came unstuck against Lamine Yamal in the semi-finals and Youri Tielemans led Belgium well as captain before succumbing to injury and missing their last-eight defeat by Spain.

— Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 24 July 2026

Definition of succumb

Verb

Valkyrie is not quite open for business, but Eveland and her business partner — Valkyrie technical director Desmond Browning — gave a Statesman reporter and photographer a tour of the facility and a preview of the training that will be offered.

— Shannon Tyler, Idaho Statesman, 25 July 2026
In the hours after James’ decision was announced, Philadelphia’s odds of winning the NBA title surged from 20-1 to 10-1, giving the 76ers the fourth-best odds behind the Knicks, San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder.

— Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 25 July 2026

Definition of give

Verb

Meanwhile, the county task force is expected to submit a pitch for stadium site use by late August or early September.

— Ilana Arougheti July 28, Kansas City Star, 28 July 2026
If successful, the measure would establish a committee to offer an apology for chattel slavery and submit recommendations to Congress on how to compensate African Americans for centuries-long discrimination.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 July 2026

Definition of submit

Verb

Construction on the new bridge began in 2018 but took years, partly because of a global slowdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

— ABC News, ABC News, 27 July 2026
Inadequate data management is projected to cause 60% of AI project failures, with autonomous agents posing even greater risks as errors can spread rapidly.

— Bernard Marr, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026

Definition of cause

Verb

According to the SemiAnalysis report, CXMT purchased a large number of patents from Qimonda, a German chip maker that collapsed amid the 2008 global financial crisis.

— Yue Wang, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
For all the challenges Prisco’s weathered over the century, nothing tested the family resolve like damage from a violent wind storm last August that tore into the store, causing part of the back wall to collapse and sending water pouring inside.

— Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 26 July 2026

Definition of collapse

Verb

Going down the cap-room road, however, would require Atlanta to relinquish Dort, CJ McCollum and Jock Landale after the season.

— John Hollinger, New York Times, 20 July 2026
In 2021, the unnamed collector who bought them voluntarily relinquished for repatriation nearly three dozen Cambodian and Southeast Asian antiquities purchased from Latchford between 2003 and 2007.

— Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 16 July 2026

Definition of relinquish

Verb

The stock rocketed nearly 70% in five weeks, peaking above $1,250 in late June, only to surrender 35% of that value in the 22 days since.

— Nishant Pant, CNBC, 21 July 2026
Last month, Said Abdullahi Ereg, a former Minneapolis grocery and deli owner wanted on federal charges since 2024, surrendered to federal authorities after being added to the list.

— Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 21 July 2026

Definition of surrender

Noun

The value of Iran’s oil revenue in dollars peaked by one-and-a-half times from April through July compared to the same period last year, according to Iranian media, after the US temporarily lifted crippling sanctions.

— Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 24 July 2026
Outside estimates of its revenue run well below that, and the numbers are his.

— Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 24 July 2026

Definition of revenue

Browse Nearby Words

yet

yield

yielded

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Yield.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/yield. Accessed 31 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of yield

verb

noun

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on yield

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

comely

Popular in Grammar & Usage

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Your vs. You're: How to Use Them Correctly

Popular in Wordplay

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

The Words of the Week - Jul. 31

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes