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
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Barca took the lead through Pedri, yet succumbed to two second half strikes from Rodrigo de Paul and Alexander Sorloth amid Barca's number 8 and Raphinha being unable to put key chances away.Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 22 Dec. 2024
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The driver succumbed to their injuries from the crash, authorities said.Erik S. Hanley, Journal Sentinel, 21 Dec. 2024
Verb
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In three appearances including two in the World Series, the Dodgers righty surrendered no runs on five hits and four walks.Gord Magill, Newsweek, 22 Dec. 2024
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The Chargers puffed their chest, all right, with a defense which allowed just three points in the final two quarters after surrendering points in Denver’s first three possessions.Jay Paris, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Following the settlement, which came just days after U.S. Magistrate Judge Lisette Reid ordered the president-elect and Stephanopoulos to submit to four-hour depositions, ABC News is facing backlash from both sides of the aisle.Stephan Pechdimaldji, Newsweek, 15 Dec. 2024
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To prepare for the arrival of a guest with disabilities, the line asks for a Special Requirements Information Form to be submitted 45 days prior to embarkation.David Swanson, Travel + Leisure, 14 Dec. 2024
Verb
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String theorists concede that daily life proceeds just fine in a three-dimensional world.Tom Siegfried, JSTOR Daily, 19 Dec. 2024
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For comparison, Manchester City conceded the fewest (3).Ahmed Walid, The Athletic, 19 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The six comics will take place over different time periods, with the first issue bowing in March.Aaron Couch, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Dec. 2024
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Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego inspire me not to bow before power and corruption even if everyone else does.Gwen Faulkenberry, arkansasonline.com, 12 Dec. 2024
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 26 Dec. 2024.
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