KNUCKLING UNDER Synonyms: 55 Similar and Opposite Words

knuckling under

verb

present participle of knuckle under

as in succumbing

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 surrendering

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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for knuckling under

Verb

Short enough to read in a single sitting, Sara Gran’s chilling story of an architect succumbing to demonic possession will leave readers stunned and unsettled.

— David Faris, TheWeek, 23 Oct. 2026
Making a brief trip to his native Gotham before production of his next movie begins, Matt makes the mistake of succumbing to the advances of a gorgeous young woman on the dance floor of a nightclub.

— Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of succumbing

Verb

The next-closest defenses, Kansas City and Jacksonville, are surrendering 17 points per game.

— Andy Scholes, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2026
The Terrapins led Rutgers 23-13 at halftime before surrendering the advantage, extending their conference losing streak to 12 games.

— Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of surrendering

Verb

Vereb, 72, appeared at the Allegheny County Courthouse on Thursday, submitting a guilty plea after being accused of defrauding thousands of pet owners over several years while operating funeral homes in Hazelwood and Harrison Township.

— Meghan Schiller, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
Malek also faces charges for allegedly submitting fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications in 2021.

— Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of submitting

Verb

But the Bennetts aren't giving up on bringing their Halloween tradition back to Maryland.

— Amy Kawata, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026
Many of them are designed to appeal to Mac users who are looking for cheaper Studio Display alternatives without giving up the pixel-dense 218ppi screen.

— Cameron Faulkner, The Verge, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of giving up

Verb

The hosts opened a four-goal lead by the 55th minute and held on after conceding in the 77th, 86th and 89th.

— ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026
Vena said the current task is proving service is strong enough to hold customers trying rail, simultaneously conceding that not all will stay.

— Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of conceding

Verb

Georgie gave the crowd a bow, losing her balance briefly before catching herself, waving to her family and bowing again.

— Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 26 Oct. 2026
For her first collection, bowing for resort, she was inspired by Borgo Filograna and its surrounding landscapes.

— Andrea Onate, Footwear News, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of bowing

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

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Synonyms of knuckling under

verb

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