SUCCUMBING Synonyms: 115 Similar and Opposite Words

succumbing

verb

present participle of succumb

as in submitting

to cease resistance (as to another's arguments, demands, or control) he finally succumbed and let his wife get rid of his dilapidated easy chair

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as in surrendering

to give up and cease resistance (as to a liking, temptation, or habit) refused to succumb to her fears and defiantly walked through the dark cemetery

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as in dying

to stop living the patient lay so still and pale that everyone thought he had succumbed, and then he opened his eyes

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as in falling

to yield to the control or power of enemy forces the doctor worked tirelessly until finally he, too, succumbed to the fever

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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 succumbing Suspicions that the festival was succumbing to fascist influences actually led to the establishment of the Cannes Film Festival as an alternative after the 1938 edition. — ABC News, 31 Aug. 2026 The Liberty’s deficit stayed in double figures while succumbing to the pressure of Golden State’s small lineups. — Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 28 Aug. 2026 The researchers said this means that the current controls by AI companies are prone to being disabled by misbehaving AI and at risk of succumbing to a blitz of AI attacks. — Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 20 Aug. 2026 There have been some close calls, with the closest being a 75-74 defeat in Game 2 of last season’s opening round, a game where Golden State held multiple large leads before succumbing late to a Minnesota comeback. — Christian Babcock, Mercury News, 18 Aug. 2026 Walz ended his campaign for a third term in January after succumbing to scrutiny about systemic fraud uncovered in his state’s social services program. — Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 17 Aug. 2026 Once the veteran players and most of the top seeds vanished from the Canadian Open, succumbing to injury and upset, the stakes of the tournament in Montreal took on a new edge. — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026 There are only 150 to 200 cases of Vibrio vulnificus infections in the United States each year, but the mortality rate is high, with 1 in 5 people succumbing to the infection. — Bill Sullivan, The Conversation, 11 Aug. 2026 In November 2008, after surviving two months longer than it was designed to, the Phoenix Mars Lander fell silent, succumbing to the harsh Martian winter. — Tariq Malik, Space.com, 4 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for succumbing

Verb

This can complicate the pre-approval and formal approval process for buyers without access to technology or who aren’t comfortable submitting sensitive documents online.

— Dan Simms, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026
The following month, Marcus and Bakhitar made another strategic decision based on their network's advice, submitting applications to sell pickles at Erewhon and Whole Foods despite barely having any history as a business.

— Megan Sauer, CNBC, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of submitting

Verb

Overall, Lomon pitched 16 2/3 innings, surrendering 24 hits and eight walks while recording seven strikeouts in his career.

— Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Leaving is sometimes necessary, but far more often the harder and healthier work is learning how to stay connected to imperfect people without surrendering ourselves, or trying to control them.

— David H. Rosmarin, Time, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of surrendering

Verb

Dudley has also produced three assists and can look forward to fixtures against high-conceding teams like Chicago and Louisville in September.

— Karan Lodha, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
The Bulls got on the scoreboard straight after halftime, ending New Zealand's streak without conceding at 124 minutes.

— ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of conceding

Verb

Fewer exits mean fewer new leveraged buyouts for business development companies (BDCs) and direct lenders to underwrite, pushing them to hold onto aging, lower-yielding paper for longer.

— Mayra Rodriguez Valladares, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
There were only 4 1⁄8 inches of differences (deductions) from one antler to the other, yielding the net score of 216 5⁄8.

— Richard P. Smith, Outdoor Life, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of yielding

Verb

Standing in a holding pen for inmates, wearing orange jail attire, Holdo looked back at Savery almost admiringly, at times bowing his head.

— Alene Tchekmedyian, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
As with most festivals, the majority of the movies bowing in Venice don’t deal directly with politics.

— Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of bowing

Verb

This summer has been a deadly one in Europe, with over 10,000 people perishing in the extreme heat over just a few weeks.

— Morgan Simon, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Julie Chen Moonves shares her thoughts on that wild Big Brother premiere, including Rachel Reilly perishing in a volcano.

— Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 10 July 2026