1
as in succumbs
to cease resistance (as to another's arguments, demands, or control)
one side finally capitulated when it became clear that they couldn't win the argument
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in surrenders
to yield to the control or power of enemy forces
the city reluctantly capitulated to the invaders after a three-day siege
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of capitulates
Pythons are constrictors, known to grip prey in their jaws, coil around it, then squeeze until the victim capitulates.
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Mark Price, Miami Herald, 11 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for capitulates
Verb
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Her sexuality is a source of conflict for her family, and the pressure leads to the painful breakup with her girlfriend, Rosie (Jess Gabor), who succumbs to family expectations.—
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Live, the band’s cataclysmic volume precludes close observation, and melodic detail succumbs to feedback like dust caught in an exploding star’s stratosphere.—
Verb
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At crucial moments, however, one force surrenders to the other to produce an ambiguous collaboration.—
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Dallas has given up the most passing yards in the league, and their secondary surrenders lots of open windows.—
Verb
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That depends on whether a taxpayer files electronically or submits a paper return, as well as whether the IRS identifies any problems with a filing.—
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But the work doesn’t end for Lata, even when her state submits its new roll.—
Verb
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To Spoelstra, what such an alignment concedes with spacing can be compensated with offensive rebounds, with the Heat prioritizing possessions.—
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In the settlement agreement, Ceratizit neither admits liability nor concedes that the government’s claims are well-founded.—
Cite this Entry
“Capitulates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/capitulates. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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