Definitions

throw in the towel

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accede v.
back out v.
cede v.
chicken out v.
concede v.
consent v.
give in/give up v.
resign v.
step down v.
submit v.
succumb v.
surrender v.
yield v.

VERB

accede

Synonyms

STRONGEST

acquiesce

STRONG

accept admit allow assent comply concede concur cooperate endorse fold grant let okay permit subscribe yield

WEAK

be game for cave in cry uncle enter into give the go-ahead give the green light go along with play ball roll over and play dead

Antonyms

STRONG

decline deny disagree disallow disapprove dispute dissent forbid hinder hold impede keep obstruct oppose prevent protest refuse reject repel repudiate resist veto

WEAK

condemn demur denounce

VERB

back out

Synonyms

STRONGEST

back down cancel give up renege surrender

WEAK

avoid back pedal beg off blow it off chicken out cop out get cold feet go back on recant resign scratch shy from weasel out wiggle out worm out

VERB

cede

Synonyms

STRONGEST

capitulate communicate concede give in give up grant hand over relinquish renounce sign over transfer waive

STRONG

abdicate accord alien alienate allow convey drop fold leave resign vouchsafe yield

WEAK

abalienate come across with deed fork over make over part with remise throw in the sponge

Antonyms

STRONGEST

fight hold keep refuse

STRONG

challenge continue deny disallow disapprove maintain oppose reject retain withhold

WEAK

defend gain guard take over win

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 give way go back on have no stomach for make concessions pull out recant renege resign scratch shy from surrender turn yellow weasel out wiggle out wimp out withdraw worm out yield

VERB

concede

Synonyms

STRONGEST

accept admit allow capitulate cave in cede confess give up grant hand over quit relinquish surrender yield

STRONG

accord avow award ditto fold own waive

WEAK

bury the hatchet cry uncle fess up go along with go with the flow knuckle under let on own up play ball with say uncle yes one

Antonyms

STRONGEST

defend deny disallow disapprove dispute fight hold keep refuse reject repudiate veto win

WEAK

contradict disacknowledge disagree dissent

VERB

consent

Synonyms

STRONGEST

acquiesce comply give in subscribe

STRONG

accede accept allow approve assent bless concede concur fold let okay permit sanction yes yield

WEAK

give the nod give up knuckle under make a deal roll over say uncle say yes sign off on

Antonyms

STRONGEST

disagree

STRONG

condemn demur deny disallow disapprove dispute dissent forbid hold keep oppose prevent protest refuse reject repudiate veto

WEAK

differ object

VERB

give in/give up

Synonyms

WEAK

abandon back down bail out bow out buckle under capitulate cave in cease cede chicken out collapse comply concede cry uncle cut out desist despair drop drop like a hot potato fold forswear hand over leave off pull out quit relinquish resign stop submit surrender take the oath waive walk out on wash one's hands of yield

Antonyms

WEAK

fight hold out stand up to withstand

VERB

resign

Synonyms

STRONG

abandon abdicate capitulate cede drop fold forgo forsake leave quit relinquish renounce retire secede surrender terminate vacate waive yield

WEAK

bail out bow out cease work demit divorce oneself from drop out end service give notice give up the ship hand in resignation hand over hang it up separate oneself from sign off stand aside stand down step down turn over walk out wash hands of

Antonyms

STRONG

assert begin claim come continue defend do fight hold join keep maintain pursue remain retain win

WEAK

agree take on

VERB

step down

Synonyms

STRONGEST

abandon abdicate bow out drop out leave quit retire terminate

WEAK

cease work give notice hand in resignation hang it up sign off walk out

Antonyms

STRONGEST

assert begin come continue defend hold join keep maintain remain retain

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 give way go with the flow grin and bear it knuckle under lay down arms put up with resign oneself say uncle 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 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

Antonyms

STRONGEST

continue defend fight

STRONG

ascend deny refuse rise stay

WEAK

conquer overcome win

VERB

surrender

Synonyms

STRONGEST

abandon capitulate cede commit concede give in hand over leave quit relinquish renounce submit succumb waive yield

STRONG

consign entrust fall fold knuckle

WEAK

buckle under cave in cry uncle deliver up eat crow eat humble pie go along with go down go under knuckle under let go pack it in part with play dead put up white flag roll over toss it in

Antonyms

STRONGEST

come continue defend fight hold keep refuse reject retain win

WEAK

conquer surpass

VERB

yield

Synonyms

STRONGEST

bow buy capitulate give up give way 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

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:

throw in the towel

Ronnie O'Sullivan says he does not "want to throw in the towel just yet" after being well beaten in his 6-3 defeat by Chang Bingyu in the semi-finals of the Wuhan Open on Friday.

From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026

"We need to be ready for a fight, not throw in the towel."

From Barron's ● Jun. 19, 2026

A cynic would have predicted that Britain would throw in the towel in 1940.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 15, 2026

If you faced challenges in your business or burned out in your career, did you throw in the towel or step back and breathe, and ask what your body was telling you?

From MarketWatch ● Mar. 19, 2026

My father was a strong dude before he decided to throw in the towel and become obese, three manicottis shy of a life-ending coronary.

From "Burning Blue" by Paul Griffin

throw in the towel

Example Sentences

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