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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of knuckle under
Countries that didn’t knuckle under — and those that found other ways to incur Trump’s wrath — got hit harder.
—
Paul Wiseman, Fortune, 3 Aug. 2025
But in an era when entertainment companies, along with politicians and seemingly everyone else, race to knuckle under to Trump's bullying and litigious tactics, the episode is still a shock.
—Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 24 July 2025
Over time, Congress knuckled under, banning Chinese and limiting Italians and Jews with country-of-origin quotas rigged against them.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 18 July 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
Miraculously, however, it is told in the voice of a musician, Rainy, a man who refuses to knuckle under and whose tones remain kind and more hopeful than despairing.
—Katherine A. Powers, Washington Post, 22 June 2024
Biden is all too willing to knuckle under both to the environmentalists who want to stop any new conventional-energy development and to the labor bosses who don’t want to see the ports modernized and automated, which might eat into their discretionary funds.
—The Editors, National Review, 23 June 2022
Please do not knuckle under.
—Abigail Van Buren, oregonlive, 25 Oct. 2021
Paul Wiseman, Fortune, 3 Aug. 2025
But in an era when entertainment companies, along with politicians and seemingly everyone else, race to knuckle under to Trump's bullying and litigious tactics, the episode is still a shock.
—Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 24 July 2025
Over time, Congress knuckled under, banning Chinese and limiting Italians and Jews with country-of-origin quotas rigged against them.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 18 July 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
Miraculously, however, it is told in the voice of a musician, Rainy, a man who refuses to knuckle under and whose tones remain kind and more hopeful than despairing.
—Katherine A. Powers, Washington Post, 22 June 2024
Biden is all too willing to knuckle under both to the environmentalists who want to stop any new conventional-energy development and to the labor bosses who don’t want to see the ports modernized and automated, which might eat into their discretionary funds.
—The Editors, National Review, 23 June 2022
Please do not knuckle under.
—Abigail Van Buren, oregonlive, 25 Oct. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knuckle under
Verb
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Notably, more people succumb to drowning each year than experience shark bites.—
Theo Burman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Aug. 2025
-
If someone succumbs to the heat, promptly relocate them to a cool, shaded location.—
Bay Area Weather Report,
Mercury News,
22 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The Formally surrenders Crossword Clue Answer is... Answer: CEDES For more on USA TODAY's Crossword Puzzles This crossword clue page was generated automatically using information from puzzles.usatoday.com.—
Sally Hoelscher,
USA Today,
24 Aug. 2025
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After surrendering a one-out double, Martin retired the next two batters and exited with a two-run lead — but the Royals staged a late rally for a 6-2 victory.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Aug. 2025
Verb
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For example, police can submit a security camera photo of a suspect to the Michigan Intelligence Operation Center (MIOC), an information sharing center created in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.—
John Wisely,
Freep.com,
31 Aug. 2025
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Tipsters can also call the U.S. Marshals Service at 1-800-336-0102 or submit a tip online at www.usmarshals.gov/tips.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
31 Aug. 2025
Verb
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They were unbeaten in 23 Championship games last season at Turf Moor, with only eight goals conceded.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
22 Aug. 2025
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So the war is likely to go on until Ukraine agrees to concede territory in exchange for security guarantees.—
Andy Shaw,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The drama about a Turkish college professor facing major upheavals on two home fronts bowed at Sundance and stars Ekin Koc, Erkan Kolçak Kostendil, Hazar Erguclu and Ercan Kesal.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
26 Aug. 2025
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Conan Gray’s latest studio album, Wishbone, bows at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart, marking his first leader there.—
Keith Caulfield,
Billboard,
25 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Knuckle under.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knuckle%20under. Accessed 4 Sep. 2025.
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