succumb

verb

sə-ˈkəm How to pronounce succumb (audio)
Definition of succumbnext
1
as in to submit
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to surrender
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to die
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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4
as in to capitulate
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb succumb differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of succumb are capitulate, defer, relent, submit, and yield. While all these words mean "to give way to someone or something that one can no longer resist," succumb implies weakness and helplessness to the one that gives way or an overwhelming power to the opposing force.

a stage actor succumbing to the lure of Hollywood

When could capitulate be used to replace succumb?

Although the words capitulate and succumb have much in common, capitulate stresses the fact of ending all resistance and may imply either a coming to terms (as with an adversary) or hopelessness in the face of an irresistible opposing force.

officials capitulated to the protesters' demands

In what contexts can defer take the place of succumb?

While in some cases nearly identical to succumb, defer implies a voluntary yielding or submitting out of respect or reverence for or deference and affection toward another.

I defer to your expertise in these matters

When is relent a more appropriate choice than succumb?

The words relent and succumb are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, relent implies a yielding through pity or mercy by one who holds the upper hand.

finally relented and let the children stay up late

Where would submit be a reasonable alternative to succumb?

The synonyms submit and succumb are sometimes interchangeable, but submit suggests full surrendering after resistance or conflict to the will or control of another.

a repentant sinner vowing to submit to the will of God

When would yield be a good substitute for succumb?

The meanings of yield and succumb largely overlap; however, yield may apply to any sort or degree of giving way before force, argument, persuasion, or entreaty.

yields too easily in any argument

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 succumb Prod: María Isabel Páramo, Iván García) One of the biggest swings among BAM projects, set in 1996 Colombia, as the country succumbs to bloody insurgent warfare. —John Hopewell, Variety, 15 July 2025 Like in Silicon Valley, the spoils will not just go to the fastest, but to those who can navigate this change strategically, and make the biggest and best government impacts, without succumbing to misguided AI implementations. —Dean Debiase, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025 An Arizona resident died of pneumonic plague, becoming the first person to succumb to the disease in the area in nearly 20 years, according to officials. —Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 13 July 2025 Lucrecia Macias Barajas, 46, succumbed to the effects of fentanyl and methamphetamine, according to Dr. Jamie Nakagiri, L.A. County deputy medical examiner. —Andrew J. Campa follow, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for succumb
Recent Examples of Synonyms for succumb
  1. submit
  2. surrender
  3. die
  4. concede
  5. yield
  6. perish
  7. budge
  8. fall
Verb
  • The new program allows customers nationwide to submit their ideas for new Whopper sandwiches on the chain's official website.
    — Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 July 2025
  • You'll also be required to submit a request form to skip a payment.
    — Jasmin Suknanan, CNBC, 25 July 2025
Definition of submit
Verb
  • Warren then surrendered Ozzie Albies’ second three-run homer in as many days in the fourth.
    — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 20 July 2025
  • Faced with no other option, the heartbroken family surrendered Draco to the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control (DACC), despite having loved and raised him for over five years.
    — Tereza Shkurtaj, People.com, 20 July 2025
Definition of surrender
Verb
  • One person died in federal prison after being kept in restraints for more than two days.
    — Joseph Shapiro, NPR, 14 July 2025
  • The Dallas County Medical Examiner’s Office will identify the two people who died.
    — Samara Gerstle, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 July 2025
Definition of die
Verb
  • Family members conceded that the trial was very tolling and difficult on them.
    — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 14 July 2025
  • Spending that much wasn’t necessary, of course, and Varas concedes some of the features could have been downgraded.
    — Denise Hruby Updated July 13, Miami Herald, 13 July 2025
Definition of concede
Verb
  • The interpretation of New York City around the time the comics were born yields great visual charm — from Times Square to the Lower East Side — with amusing period-specific product placement for brands like 7Up and Canada Dry.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 22 July 2025
  • Darvish departed after 69 pitches, many of them under duress, and Yuki Matsui yielded a home run to Nathaniel Lowe in the sixth inning.
    — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 July 2025
Definition of yield
Verb
  • At the time, Mao was on the back foot politically after his disastrous Great Leap Forward, an industrialization campaign in which as many as 45 million people perished in famines.
    — M. Taylor Fravel, Foreign Affairs, 18 July 2025
  • These are some of the memories Lacy and John Lawrence will treasure of their 8-year-old twin daughters who both perished in the Texas Hill Country floods that took the lives of at least 134 people, including 27 campers and counselors at Camp Mystic.
    — Joan Chrissos July 17, Miami Herald, 17 July 2025
Definition of perish
Verb
  • Many will not budge off of Jordan being the best player of all-time, but there are also many who will argue tooth and nail that James deserves the title.
    — Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 July 2025
  • Molson Coors Beer maker Molson Coors Beverage Co. (TAP) was on this list a year ago, and its stock price has barely budged since then.
    — John Dorfman, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
Definition of budge
Verb
  • The Northern Territory has previously experienced cases of falling trees causing death, per the outlet.
    — Gabrielle Rockson, People.com, 21 July 2025
  • More aggressive treatment options Advertisement In particularly severe cases—especially when someone has an underlying autoimmune disease—OTC eye drops and lifestyle modifications will likely fall short.
    — Angela Haupt, Time, 21 July 2025
Definition of fall

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succulent
succumb
succumbed
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Cite this Entry

“Succumb.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/succumb. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.

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