Synonym Chooser

How is the word succeed different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of succeed are ensue, follow, and supervene. While all these words mean "to come after something or someone," succeed implies a coming after immediately in a sequence determined by natural order, inheritance, election, or laws of rank.

she succeeded her father as head of the business

When can ensue be used instead of succeed?

While in some cases nearly identical to succeed, ensue commonly suggests a logical consequence or naturally expected development.

after the talk a general discussion ensued

When could follow be used to replace succeed?

The words follow and succeed are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, follow may apply to a coming after in time, position, or logical sequence.

speeches followed the dinner

When is supervene a more appropriate choice than succeed?

The synonyms supervene and succeed are sometimes interchangeable, but supervene suggests the following or beginning of something unforeseen or unpredictable.

unable to continue because of supervening circumstances

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 succeed Those, then, are the challenges that a Chancellor Merz would face: succeed with one of the toughest hands dealt to an incoming chancellor for 30 years or risk being remembered as the leader who paved the way for the first far-right German government since 1945. Ido Vock, TIME, 22 Feb. 2025 When was Haiti granted TPS designation? After years of pushing for TPS designation, advocates finally succeeded after the 2010 earthquake killed more than 300,000 people. Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 22 Feb. 2025 Some are succeeding, but many more have failed by trying to radically rethink the simple, age-old task of getting stuff from one place to another. Tim Stevens, Ars Technica, 22 Feb. 2025 Donald Trump’s efforts to buy Greenland from Denmark went nowhere during his first term and are no more likely to succeed in his second. Steve Forbes, Forbes, 11 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for succeed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for succeed
Verb
  • This goes for the show's host, Kevin O'Connor, and its core cast of experts — Tom Silva, Richard Trethewey and Jenn Nawada — and for members of production who are behind the scenes.
    Maddie McGay, USA TODAY, 25 Feb. 2025
  • The Vatican said in a statement on Monday morning that for Francis, the night had gone well.
    Emma Bubola, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • His ventures have thrived because of their agility and responsiveness to market demands, setting new benchmarks for excellence.
    Tyler Shepherd, USA TODAY, 22 Feb. 2025
  • After the team practiced ahead of its flight to Toronto, backup center Kevin Love likened the team’s task ahead to thriving within a playoff series: playing things out while relying on luck, executing and winning games against non-playoff teams and capitalizing on homestands.
    James Jackson, The Athletic, 21 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Typically, following a mass law enforcement action, there are pending criminal charges accessible in the public record.
    Lauren Villagran, USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2025
  • On Monday, Cramer will be following reports from Domino’s Pizza, Coterra, Realty Income, Cleveland-Cliffs as well as Hims & Hers.
    Julie Coleman, CNBC, 22 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • If this newsletter isn't already getting conveniently delivered to your inbox, click here to subscribe.
    Jim Reineking, USA TODAY, 25 Feb. 2025
  • Just tap or click your answers to the five questions below.
    J. D. Biersdorfer, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • The movement flourished during the anti-lockdown movement at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
    Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY, 21 Feb. 2025
  • Instead, the Cardinals have flourished under first-year coach Pat Kelsey.
    Tim Casey, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Customers are replacing orange juice with teas, sparkling water, sports drinks, energy drinks and other beverages that claim to be healthier or offer functional benefits like improved immune systems or energy levels, analysts say.
    Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN, 26 Feb. 2025
  • According to the Mayo Clinic, a liver transplant is a surgery that removes a lier that no longer functions properly due to liver failure and replaces it with either a healthy liver from a deceased donor or a part of a healthy liver from a living donor.
    Jason Pham, StyleCaster, 26 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Sign up for What's New Now to get our top stories delivered to your inbox every morning.
    Will McCurdy, PCMAG, 23 Feb. 2025
  • This has to be balanced out with the power and performance that Apple Silicon has been able to consistently deliver since the first reveal in Nov. 2020.
    Ewan Spence, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • When an officer arrived at the scene of the attack, Apollo charged at the officer, who shot at the dog, police said in court records.
    Laura A. Bischoff, USA TODAY, 19 Feb. 2025
  • Deputies performed life-saving measures until Cal Fire paramedics arrived.
    Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Succeed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/succeed. Accessed 1 Mar. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on succeed

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