KNUCKLED UNDER Synonyms: 56 Similar and Opposite Words

knuckled under

verb

past tense of knuckle under

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

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

Even those who have succumbed to cancer are able to be sent off like this, since toxic chemotherapy drugs are usually long gone from the body by the time of passing.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 24 Oct. 2026
The city’s Medical Examiner ruled the victim’s death a homicide after determining Wong succumbed to stab wounds to his neck and torso.

— Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of succumbed

Verb

He was stationed in India in 1945 when Japan surrendered, marking the end of the war.

— Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2026
There were penalties that hampered a couple drives and a few too many explosive plays surrendered on defense for a second consecutive week for Cristobal’s liking.

— Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of surrendered

Verb

In a report submitted to the city by FSMY Architects + Planners, the design firm describes the tower as creating a distinctive silhouette within the downtown skyline.

— Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 29 Oct. 2026
Those transcripts are then submitted as the court’s official record of the testimony.

— Zoë Schiffer, semafor.com, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of submitted

Verb

In the postwar decades, humans seized ecosystems at breakneck speed—forests were felled, prairies plowed, wetlands drained.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2026
Griess, the superintendent of the National Mall and Memorial Parks, said the 430 trees that were felled were not identified as hazardous or raising safety concerns.

— Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of fell

Verb

Roberto De Feo, an Italian director and screenwriter, says the breakout success of Obsession and Backrooms has allowed Paolo Strippoli’s campy, fun Italian horror thriller The Spiral, which bowed in Venice and is now potentially up for an Oscar.

— Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 21 Oct. 2026
Embiid appeared to wonder during the national anthem where the Knicks' championship banner was hanging in the rafters as James sat nearby on the bench with his head bowed and hands clasped.

— CBS News, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of bowed

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.

Cite this Entry

Style

“Knuckled under.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knuckled%20under. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of knuckled under

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

reticent

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

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

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Pwn, Skibidi, Girlboss and Other Words Added to the 2026 Scrabble Dictionary

The Words of the Week - Oct. 30

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes