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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of knuckle under
Everyone, including the media, knuckles under.
—
Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 24 Feb. 2026
That’s a clear message to others to get in line and knuckle under — or else.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 14 Jan. 2026
How much of this is a bluff designed to get Senate Democrats to knuckle under and vote to reopen the government and how much of this is wishcasting by MAGA?
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 10 Oct. 2025
Those that didn’t knuckle under — or otherwise incurred Trump’s wrath — got hit harder earlier this month.
—Paul Wiseman, Fortune, 30 Aug. 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
Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 24 Feb. 2026
That’s a clear message to others to get in line and knuckle under — or else.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 14 Jan. 2026
How much of this is a bluff designed to get Senate Democrats to knuckle under and vote to reopen the government and how much of this is wishcasting by MAGA?
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 10 Oct. 2025
Those that didn’t knuckle under — or otherwise incurred Trump’s wrath — got hit harder earlier this month.
—Paul Wiseman, Fortune, 30 Aug. 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knuckle under
Verb
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The odds were always bad, and the Dallas Stars succumbed not to math but the better team.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 May 2026
-
Rangel succumbed to his injuries two days later, on December 6.—
Peter D'Abrosca , Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
1 May 2026
Verb
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After the Chiricahua Apache surrendered in 1886, the land became home to a family of Swedish immigrant settlers, the Ericksons.—
Staff Author,
Travel + Leisure,
1 May 2026
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The use of the term caused alarm as international humanitarian law explicitly forbids armed forces from denying enemy combatants to surrender and instead killing them.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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David Feineman, Broomfield To send a letter to the editor about this article, submit online or check out our guidelines for how to submit by email or mail.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
25 Apr. 2026
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The application documents also note that, in July 2024, the Zoning Board approved an application submitted by Wheelers Farm Partners, LLC, and Greenview Equities, LLC, the owners of 470-488 Wheelers Farm Road, which is the 47-acre office park.—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Cole Allen, the suspect in the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner shooting, conceded to remain detained pending further legal proceedings in his case, his attorney said at his detention hearing on Thursday.—
Alexander Mallin,
ABC News,
30 Apr. 2026
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Regardless, against an offensive machine as efficient as Cleveland’s, those are the shots the Raptors will concede.—
Eric Koreen,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The romancer, which bowed in SXSW, follows Julia (Hawke), a frustrated video game designer, and Charlie (Pullman), a struggling musician, having supernatural impacts on the world after attending a couples therapy seminar to repair their volatile relationship.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
1 May 2026
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On Friday, the zoo resumed business, with officials bowing to visitors and apologizing for the trouble caused.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Knuckle under.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knuckle%20under. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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