CAPITULATE Synonyms: 54 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'capitulate' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of capitulate are defer , relent , submit , succumb , and yield . While all these words mean "to give way to someone or something that one can no longer resist," 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

Q: When would 'defer' be a good substitute for 'capitulate'?

While in some cases nearly identical to capitulate , 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

Q: When is it sensible to use 'relent' instead of 'capitulate'?

While the synonyms relent and capitulate are close in meaning, relent implies a yielding through pity or mercy by one who holds the upper hand. // finally relented and let the children stay up late

Q: When can 'submit' be used instead of 'capitulate'?

The synonyms submit and capitulate 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

Q: When could 'succumb' be used to replace 'capitulate'?

The words succumb and capitulate can be used in similar contexts, but 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

Q: When is 'yield' a more appropriate choice than 'capitulate'?

In some situations, the words yield and capitulate are roughly equivalent. However, yield may apply to any sort or degree of giving way before force, argument, persuasion, or entreaty. // yields too easily in any argument

capitulate

verb

kə-ˈpi-chə-ˌlāt

Definition of capitulate

as in to succumb

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

as in to surrender

to yield to the control or power of enemy forces the city reluctantly capitulated to the invaders after a three-day siege

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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How does the verb capitulate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of capitulate are defer, relent, submit, succumb, and yield. While all these words mean "to give way to someone or something that one can no longer resist," 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

When would defer be a good substitute for capitulate?

While in some cases nearly identical to capitulate, 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 it sensible to use relent instead of capitulate?

While the synonyms relent and capitulate are close in meaning, relent implies a yielding through pity or mercy by one who holds the upper hand.

finally relented and let the children stay up late

When can submit be used instead of capitulate?

The synonyms submit and capitulate 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 could succumb be used to replace capitulate?

The words succumb and capitulate can be used in similar contexts, but 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 is yield a more appropriate choice than capitulate?

In some situations, the words yield and capitulate are roughly equivalent. 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 capitulate West Ham could have capitulated after Leo Scienza’s opener for Southampton in the 10th minute, but the youngsters showed they were not overawed. — Roshane Thomas, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026 Trita Parsi, executive vice president of Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, said Iran is not likely to capitulate even with the latest economic measures. — Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026 When Iran failed to capitulate, the United States confronted the reality of dwindling supplies. — Colin Pascal, Baltimore Sun, 18 Aug. 2026 According to the New York Times on Sunday, that drive to capitulate lays bare a firm was caught between its progressive ideals and the business demand for corporate practice. — Eve Batey, Vanity Fair, 2 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for capitulate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for capitulate

Verb

Mark died last year, at sixty-two, from cancer; Bragg’s older brother, Sam, had also succumbed to the disease a few years earlier, at sixty-four.

— Charles Bethea, New Yorker, 9 Oct. 2026
Others succumbed to their wounds or the conditions endured in captivity.

— Jeremy Diamond, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of succumb

Verb

This is a place to take a risk, to surrender, and at the very least, to experience something that can only happen for you in that moment — something altogether fleeting that is just yours.

— Chris Willman, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026
Within a minute of the puck hitting the ice, the Dons surrendered the first breakaway.

— Richie McGinniss, New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of surrender

Verb

In 2009, armed men stopped a convoy of civilians, relatives, lawyers and journalists heading to submit election filings in Maguindanao and killed 58 people, at least 32 of them journalists and media workers.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026
An Anthropic artificial intelligence model submitted a false tip to a Philadelphia police website about an unsolved homicide case, authorities and Anthropic said.

— Mae Anderson, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of submit

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capitulary

capitulate

capitulated

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“Capitulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/capitulate. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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