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Definitions

give way

VERB
budge
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bend
STRONG
change convince inch influence locomote move persuade propel push remove roll shift slide stir sway yield
WEAK
change position
Antonyms
STRONG
discourage dissuade fix hinder hold keep leave alone prevent remain repress stay steady stop suppress
VERB
chicken out
Synonyms
WEAK
avoid back down back out back pedal beg off blow it off bow out cancel cop out funk out get cold feet give up go back on have no stomach for make concessions pull out recant renege resign scratch shy from surrender throw in the towel turn yellow weasel out wiggle out wimp out withdraw worm out yield
VERB
collapse
Synonyms
STRONGEST
break cave in crumple disintegrate drop fail faint fall down founder shatter topple weaken
STRONG
bend deflate droop exhaust flag fold give go languish subside succumb tire weary wilt yield
WEAK
belly up conk out crack up flake out give in give out go to pieces keel over
Antonyms
STRONGEST
accomplish achieve fix mend straighten strengthen succeed
STRONG
activate create energize grow increase inflate invigorate refresh rise withhold
WEAK
build
VERB
crack
Synonyms
STRONGEST
break down collapse flip
STRONG
succumb yield
WEAK
become deranged become insane blow one's mind blow up bug out go bonkers go crazy go to pieces lose it
Antonyms
WEAK
be calm
VERB
crash
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bump collapse collide ditch dive drop hurtle meet overturn plunge slip smash topple tumble
STRONG
lurch overbalance pancake pitch prang sprawl upset washout
WEAK
bite the dust crash-land drive into fall flat fall headlong fall prostrate go in plough into splash down
Antonyms
STRONGEST
ascend rise
VERB
crumple
Synonyms
STRONGEST
break down buckle crush scrunch
STRONG
collapse crease crimp crinkle fall fold pucker ruck rumple screw shrivel wad wrinkle
WEAK
cave in crimple go to pieces rimple
Antonyms
STRONG
flatten rise smooth straighten
VERB
cry uncle
Synonyms
WEAK
break cave in give up put one's tail between one's legs say uncle surrender
VERB
despair
Synonyms
STRONG
abandon despond destroy drop flatten relinquish renounce resign surrender yield
WEAK
be hopeless have heavy heart let air out lose faith lose heart take down
Antonyms
STRONG
keep pursue
WEAK
anticipate expect have faith hope wish for
VERB
fall
Synonyms
STRONGEST
die drop give up go down slump
STRONG
bend capitulate obey perish resign submit succumb yield
WEAK
back down be casualty be destroyed be killed be lost be taken defer to eat dirt fall to pieces give in go under lie down pass into enemy hands
Antonyms
STRONG
fight
WEAK
advance overcome overthrow win
VERB
give
Synonyms
STRONGEST
allow devote fail go grant hand over lend open
STRONG
bend break cave cede concede contract crumble crumple fall flex fold recede relax relent relinquish retire retreat sag shrink sink slacken surrender weaken
WEAK
bow to fold up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
finish hold keep
STRONG
enlarge expand face fight grow increase put together rise strengthen win
WEAK
withhold withstand
VERB
obey
Synonyms
STRONGEST
accept adhere to carry out comply embrace execute heed live by observe surrender
STRONG
accede accord acquiesce agree answer assent concur discharge follow fulfill keep mind perform respond serve submit
WEAK
abide by act upon be loyal to be ruled by bow to do as one says do one's bidding do one's duty do what is expected do what one is told get in line hold fast knuckle under play second fiddle take orders toe the line
Antonyms
STRONGEST
decline deny disregard forget ignore leave miss neglect overlook refuse reject
STRONG
argue ask differ disagree disallow disapprove disobey dispute dissent fail object oppose protest question
WEAK
mutiny rebel
VERB
relent
Synonyms
STRONGEST
acquiesce capitulate cave in come around comply ease off give in give up let go quit relax slacken soften subside
STRONG
drop ease ebb fall fold forbear melt moderate slow wane weaken yield
WEAK
be merciful change one's mind cool it cry uncle die away ease up on give quarter give some slack go along with go easy on have mercy have pity lay back let it happen lighten up mellow out say uncle show mercy
Antonyms
STRONGEST
grow increase worry
STRONG
advance ascend continue free rise
WEAK
build
VERB
retire
Synonyms
STRONGEST
depart go pull out relinquish remove retreat separate surrender withdraw
STRONG
decamp ebb exit part recede regress repeal rescind resign revoke rusticate secede yield
WEAK
absent oneself deny oneself draw back fall back get away get off give ground give up work go away go to bed go to one's room go to sleep hand over hit the sack leave service make vacant pull back run along seclude oneself sever connections stop working take off turn in
Antonyms
STRONGEST
advance continue remain stay
STRONG
approve arrive come in increase join
WEAK
begin enter
VERB
sag
Synonyms
STRONGEST
cave in dip drop off fall off languish sink slide slip slump wilt
STRONG
bag bend bow curve dangle decline drop fail fall flag flap flop hang lean settle swag
WEAK
fall away hang down
Antonyms
STRONGEST
ascend increase rise
STRONG
go up straighten
WEAK
bulge draw up tighten
VERB
snap
Synonyms
STRONGEST
click crack fracture pop
STRONG
crackle
WEAK
come apart
Antonyms
WEAK
combine fix loose
VERB
split
Synonyms
STRONGEST
break disband divide isolate open rip rive separate sever splinter tear
STRONG
bifurcate branch burst cleave crack dichotomize disjoin dissever disunite diverge divorce fork gape hack part rend slash slit snap sunder whack
WEAK
come apart come undone go separate ways part company put asunder
Antonyms
STRONGEST
agree attach close combine fix hide join mend sew unite wait
WEAK
pull together
VERB
submit
Synonyms
STRONGEST
acknowledge agree defer surrender
STRONG
abide accede acquiesce appease bend bow buckle capitulate cave cede concede fold humor indulge knuckle kowtow obey quit relent relinquish stoop succumb tolerate truckle withstand yield
WEAK
be submissive eat crow give away give ground give in go with the flow grin and bear it knuckle under lay down arms put up with resign oneself say uncle throw in the towel toe the line
Antonyms
STRONGEST
contradict refuse
STRONG
continue defend deny disagree disallow disapprove dispute dissent fight flatten leave protest reject stop straighten veto win
WEAK
conceal disobey dissuade hide resist
VERB
succumb
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bow break down buckle capitulate cave in cease defer give in go down pass away perish quit wilt yield
STRONG
accede cave collapse croak decease demise depart drop expire fall fold go knuckle pass submit
WEAK
eat crow fall victim to flake out give in to give out give up the ghost go under knuckle under meet waterloo pack it in show white flag take the count throw in the towel
Antonyms
STRONGEST
continue defend fight
STRONG
ascend deny refuse rise stay
WEAK
conquer overcome win
VERB
superannuate
Synonyms
STRONG
decamp depart ebb exit go part pension recede regress relinquish remove repeal rescind resign retreat revoke rusticate secede separate surrender withdraw yield
WEAK
absent oneself deny oneself draw back fall back get away get off give ground give up work go away go to bed go to one's room go to sleep hand over hit the sack leave service make vacant pull back pull out put out to pasture run along seclude oneself sever connections stop working take off turn in
Antonyms
STRONG
advance allow approve arrive combine come come in enter forge increase join permit remain stay unite
VERB
weaken
Synonyms
STRONGEST
abate decline decrease depress dilute diminish dwindle halt impair lessen lower reduce sap soften undermine wane
STRONG
adulterate crumble cut debase debilitate devitalize droop enervate exhaust fade fail faint flag impoverish invalidate languish limp lose minimize mitigate moderate relapse relax temper thin tire totter tremble vitiate wilt
WEAK
break up ease up lose spirit slow down thin out water down
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aid assist compliment develop encourage enlarge expand extend grow help increase praise prolong raise rise strengthen
STRONG
achieve activate aggravate agitate animate clean energize enhance excite free improve incite invigorate purify refresh succeed win
WEAK
build up
VERB
withdraw
Synonyms
STRONGEST
depart disengage drop out eliminate go leave pull back pull out quit retire retreat
STRONG
abjure blow book detach exit extract quail recede recoil secede shrink switch vacate
WEAK
absent oneself back out bail out bow out check out draw away draw back ease out exfiltrate fall back get away get lost get off give ground keep aloof keep apart make oneself scarce phase out run along seclude oneself take a hike take away take leave take off take out
Antonyms
STRONGEST
begin come continue engage enter join keep persevere stay
STRONG
arrive combine come in face meet unite
WEAK
advance allow permit remain
VERB
yield
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bow buy capitulate give up leave succumb
STRONG
abandon abdicate bend break cede collapse crumple defer fold go knuckle relax relent relinquish resign sag submit
WEAK
admit defeat back down call it quits cave in come to terms fold up give oneself over hand over knuckle under lay down arms let go part with suffer defeat throw in the towel
Antonyms
STRONGEST
defend fight
STRONG
agree assert build hide hold increase keep retain rise stay straighten
WEAK
counter deny disallow disapprove oppose prevent refuse reject veto withhold

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Languid piano tunes give way to surging, keening tides of strings.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026

She doesn't yet know that the inspection determined several columns in her house are compromised and it shouldn't be inhabited because they could give way.

From Barron's ● Jul. 8, 2026

More than that, it’s a case about how private the data on your phone really is and when that privacy interest has to give way to the government’s law enforcement efforts.

From Slate ● Jul. 1, 2026

They fear a surge in nationalism that has shielded the government from criticism could give way to discontent if the economy deteriorates further.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 26, 2026

As black changed to bright, so also did weightlessness give way to deceleration.

From "Flying to the Moon: An Astronaut's Story" by Michael Collins

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