1
as in to succumb
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 to surrender
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
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 knuckle under
Everyone, including the media, knuckles under.
—
Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 24 Feb. 2026
That’s a clear message to others to get in line and knuckle under — or else.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 14 Jan. 2026
How much of this is a bluff designed to get Senate Democrats to knuckle under and vote to reopen the government and how much of this is wishcasting by MAGA?
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 10 Oct. 2025
Those that didn’t knuckle under — or otherwise incurred Trump’s wrath — got hit harder earlier this month.
—Paul Wiseman, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2025
The front lines of our legal edifice have been divided and conquered, with premier law firms knuckling under and meekly promising to shut up and work for Trump, while the Supreme Court carefully pulls its punches to avoid a showdown.
—Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Apr. 2025
Of course, Cruz knuckled under a little while later.
—James Hohmann, Washington Post, 9 July 2024
Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 24 Feb. 2026
That’s a clear message to others to get in line and knuckle under — or else.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 14 Jan. 2026
How much of this is a bluff designed to get Senate Democrats to knuckle under and vote to reopen the government and how much of this is wishcasting by MAGA?
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 10 Oct. 2025
Those that didn’t knuckle under — or otherwise incurred Trump’s wrath — got hit harder earlier this month.
—Paul Wiseman, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2025
The front lines of our legal edifice have been divided and conquered, with premier law firms knuckling under and meekly promising to shut up and work for Trump, while the Supreme Court carefully pulls its punches to avoid a showdown.
—Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Apr. 2025
Of course, Cruz knuckled under a little while later.
—James Hohmann, Washington Post, 9 July 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knuckle under
Verb
-
The odds were always bad, and the Dallas Stars succumbed not to math but the better team.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 May 2026
-
Rangel succumbed to his injuries two days later, on December 6.—
Peter D'Abrosca , Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
After the Chiricahua Apache surrendered in 1886, the land became home to a family of Swedish immigrant settlers, the Ericksons.—
Staff Author,
Travel + Leisure,
1 May 2026
-
The use of the term caused alarm as international humanitarian law explicitly forbids armed forces from denying enemy combatants to surrender and instead killing them.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
For direct contact information such as your name, email address and other associated personal information, please submit the form below first.—
Rohan Nadkarni,
NBC news,
3 May 2026
-
The governor, Tim Walz, helped slap together a commission to entertain publicly submitted designs, but then the public was shut out and did not have a vote on the matter, an important matter.—
Joe Soucheray,
Twin Cities,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
Their final away game might not look great but Chelsea are on one of the worst runs in the club’s history, losing the last six games while conceding 14 goals and scoring only one.—
Abdul Rehman,
New York Times,
7 May 2026
-
Dick conceded that there was some avoidance on his side, too.—
Janet W. Lee,
NPR,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
With the threat of further protests and boycotts ahead of the public opening on Saturday, organisers finally bowed to pressure and agreed to close the Russian pavilion to the public.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
7 May 2026
-
This tank carried a crew of 5, including the commander, gunner, loader, driver, assistant driver, and bow gunner.—
Matthew S Williams,
Interesting Engineering,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Knuckle under.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knuckle%20under. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
