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
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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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Recent Examples of knuckle under
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
His determination to hold on to his dignity, to not knuckle under, marked a pathway for our family to move forward, to expand on what he’d not been allowed to do.
—Deborah Johnson, The Christian Science Monitor, 13 Feb. 2023
As noted in this space in 2015, the company required participants in its Times Journeys program — pricey overseas trips guided by Times journalists — to knuckle under to an arbitration clause.
—Erik Wemple, Washington Post, 24 Dec. 2022
Europe’s governing parties can’t knuckle under to Russian blackmail and retain their democratic viability.
—Holman W. Jenkins, WSJ, 30 Aug. 2022
His bile aimed at the Sulzberger family stems above all from the paper’s coverage and criticism of him, its refusal to knuckle under.
—David Remnick, The New Yorker, 21 Dec. 2021
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
His determination to hold on to his dignity, to not knuckle under, marked a pathway for our family to move forward, to expand on what he’d not been allowed to do.
—Deborah Johnson, The Christian Science Monitor, 13 Feb. 2023
As noted in this space in 2015, the company required participants in its Times Journeys program — pricey overseas trips guided by Times journalists — to knuckle under to an arbitration clause.
—Erik Wemple, Washington Post, 24 Dec. 2022
Europe’s governing parties can’t knuckle under to Russian blackmail and retain their democratic viability.
—Holman W. Jenkins, WSJ, 30 Aug. 2022
His bile aimed at the Sulzberger family stems above all from the paper’s coverage and criticism of him, its refusal to knuckle under.
—David Remnick, The New Yorker, 21 Dec. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knuckle under
Verb
-
Shakur succumbed to his injuries a week later at the age of 25.—
Kristen Waggoner,
Newsweek,
21 Jan. 2025
-
The child was rushed to a local hospital but succumbed to his injuries two days later.—
Muri Assunção,
New York Daily News,
19 Jan. 2025
Verb
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In just his third career start, Johnson struggled in coverage, surrendering nine receptions for 103 yards, including a touchdown, on 12 targets as the nearest defender, according to Pro Football Focus.—
Nate Taylor,
The Athletic,
21 Jan. 2025
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After eventually dropping the knife, the man refused orders to surrender, so officers tackled and restrained him, police said.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacramento Bee,
21 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
More than 2,000 scripts were submitted — double the number of a typical NHK screenplay competition — whittled down to 42 interviewees and 10 who were put through to the final WDR.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
14 Jan. 2025
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There is a reward of up to $25,000 for information submitted anonymously to the TIPS hotline.—
Kendrick Calfee,
Kansas City Star,
14 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Having only conceded three goals in their last nine games, and never more than once in a match, Newcastle’s previous solidity crumbled.—
Chris Waugh,
The Athletic,
18 Jan. 2025
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Trump, after all, refused to concede to Biden after losing the 2020 election, trafficked in rhetoric that led to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot, and declined to attend Biden’s inauguration later that month.—
Niall Stanage,
The Hill,
17 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Lin is back in Park City for the first time since his breakout film, Better Luck Tomorrow, bowed at Sundance in 2002.—
Mia Galuppo,
The Hollywood Reporter,
23 Jan. 2025
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Despite headwinds, the brand has been resilient and is gearing up for the opening of a new flagship in Paris next month, following units that bowed last year in Hamburg, Germany, and Lyon, France.—
Luisa Zargani,
WWD,
21 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near knuckle under
Cite this Entry
“Knuckle under.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knuckle%20under. Accessed 27 Jan. 2025.
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