knuckling under

verb

Definition of knuckling undernext
present participle of knuckle under
1
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in surrendering
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

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for knuckling under
  1. succumbing
  2. surrendering
  3. submitting
  4. conceding
  5. bowing
Verb
  • The church's front doors lay in pieces, succumbing to the flames and the pressure of the water.
    Noe Padilla, The Indianapolis Star, 24 Dec. 2024
  • Frey said believes Hoover slipped on the ice, fell to the ground and was unable to get back up before succumbing to harsh weather conditions.
    Craig Shoup, The Tennessean, 22 Dec. 2024
Definition of succumbing
Verb
  • There’s something about someone who’s been protecting themselves so much, and then finally surrendering again like that and being so vulnerable.
    Max Gao, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Dec. 2024
  • 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
Definition of surrendering
Verb
  • Residing or working in the country without legal status and submitting false documents to government authorities for a range of benefits or for employment is already a federal crime.
    Ray Stern, The Arizona Republic, 24 Dec. 2024
  • After submitting those contributions for public matching funds, the Adams campaign raked in an additional $22,000 in taxpayers’ cash off of them, records show.
    Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 23 Dec. 2024
Definition of submitting
Verb
  • Another is the head loss that seems to happen after conceding.
    Nick Miller, The Athletic, 23 Dec. 2024
  • In this present moment, United are leaking goals, conceding 17 in their last nine games.
    Charlotte Harpur, The Athletic, 23 Dec. 2024
Definition of conceding
Verb
  • Over the following decade, however, the show acquired a cult following through DVDs and streaming, and a few years ago, bowing to fan demand, Scott’s company helped produce a six-episode reboot, released in 2023.
    Rachel Syme, The New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2024
  • Over the following decade, however, the show acquired a cult following through DVDs and streaming, and a few years ago, bowing to fan demand, Scott’s company helped produce a six-episode reboot, released in 2023.
    Rachel Syme, The New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2024
Definition of bowing
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.

Thesaurus Entries Near knuckling under

knuckling down (to)

knuckling under

knuckling under (to)

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Cite this Entry

“Knuckling under.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knuckling%20under. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.

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