Definitions

succumb

[suh-kuhm] / səˈkʌm /

VERB

die or surrender

Synonyms

STRONGEST

bow break down buckle capitulate cave in cease defer give in give way 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

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.

These kinds of commoditized industries tend to succumb to price wars: The lowest-cost producer “wins” by destroying the entire industry’s margins.

From Barron's • Jun. 3, 2026

We can all live and work together—or we can succumb to fatalism and a false sense of inevitability.

From Slate • May 28, 2026

China may allow its currency to succumb to upward pressure as part of its trade negotiations with the U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 12, 2026

But we don’t have to succumb to that pressure.

From Los Angeles Times • May 8, 2026

He’d done well to ignore his mounting thirst and exhaustion today, and he certainly wouldn’t succumb to them now, when they were so close to the finish line.

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman

Vocabulary lists containing succumb

Tier 2 Words for the SBAC ELA Items

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

List 3

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

"The Odyssey" by Homer, Books 1–7

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!