Succumb — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /sə-ˈkəm/ suc·cumb

Meaning & Definition of Succumb

Succumb (verb)

  1. to yield to superior strength or force or overpowering appeal or desire
  2. to be brought to an end (such as death) by the effect of destructive or disruptive forces

Succumb (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to cease resistance (as to another's arguments, demands, or control)

    "he finally succumbed and let his wife get rid of his dilapidated easy chair"

    similar: blink, bow, budge, capitulate, concede, give in, knuckle under, quit, relent, submit, surrender, yield, say uncle, throw in the towel
    related: acquiesce, defer
    opposite: resist
    near: contend, fight, hold off, battle, breast, combat, confront, counter, defy, face, meet, object, oppose, repel, thwart, withstand

  2. to give up and cease resistance (as to a liking, temptation, or habit)

    "refused to succumb to her fears and defiantly walked through the dark cemetery"

    similar: bow, cave (in), give in, submit, surrender, yield
    related: cater (to), gratify, indulge, wallow, acquiesce (to), concede (to), buckle (under), knuckle under, give over (to)
    opposite: hold off, resist
    near: battle, breast, combat, confront, counter, defy, face, fight, meet, object, oppose, repel, thwart, withstand, reject, bridle, check, constrain, curb, inhibit, restrain, stifle

  3. to stop living

    "the patient lay so still and pale that everyone thought he had succumbed, and then he opened his eyes"

    similar: check out, conk (out), croak (slang), decease, demise, depart, die, drop, end, exit, expire, fall, flatline, go, kick in (slang), kick off (slang), part, pass (on), pass away, peg out (chiefly British), perish, pop off, step out, bite the dust, buy it, give up the ghost, kick the bucket, snuff it (British)
    related: predecease, consume, disappear, dry up, fade, fail
    opposite: breathe, live
    near: come to, revive, linger, be, exist, subsist, flourish, prosper, thrive

  4. to yield to the control or power of enemy forces

    "the doctor worked tirelessly until finally he, too, succumbed to the fever"

    similar: capitulate, fall, give up, knuckle under, submit, surrender
    related: bow, buckle, cave (in), collapse, give (in), hand over, relinquish, lose, concede, fail, fold
    opposite: endure, stand
    near: buck, defy, fight, oppose, repel, resist, withstand, beat, overcome, win, conquer, prevail, triumph

Related Entry: Succumb (to) (verb)

Succumb (to) is a different word from Succumb. The synonyms below are for succumb (to), not for succumb.

  1. as in die (from)

    similar: die (from), break out (with), fail, languish, sink, waste (away), weaken, wilt, wither, worsen, catch, come down (with), contract, get, go down (with) (chiefly British), sicken (with), take
    opposite: come back, gain, heal, mend, recoup, recover, recuperate, snap back, rally, rebound, recover (from), shake (off)

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Succumb

The most common words with a similar meaning to Succumb:

Slang: croak, kick in, kick off
Chiefly British: peg out
British: snuff it
blink, bow, budge, capitulate, concede, give in, knuckle under, quit, relent, submit, surrender, yield, cave (in), check out, conk (out), decease, demise, depart, die, drop, end, exit, expire, fall, flatline, go, part, pass (on), pass away, perish, pop off, step out, give up, say uncle, throw in the towel, bite the dust, buy it, give up the ghost, kick the bucket

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Succumb

Words with the opposite meaning of Succumb:

resist, hold off, breathe, live, endure, stand

Related Words for Succumb

acquiesce, defer, cater (to), gratify, indulge, wallow, acquiesce (to), concede (to), buckle (under), give over (to), predecease, consume, disappear, dry up, fade, fail, buckle, collapse, give (in), hand over, relinquish, lose, fold

Near Antonyms of Succumb

contend, fight, battle, breast, combat, confront, counter, defy, face, meet, object, oppose, repel, thwart, withstand, reject, bridle, check, constrain, curb, inhibit, restrain, stifle, come to, revive, linger, be, exist, subsist, flourish

Word Forms of Succumb

Inflections: succumbed, succumbing, succumbs

Origin & Etymology of Succumb

French & Latin; French succomber, from Latin succumbere, from sub- + -cumbere to lie down; akin to Latin cubare to lie

First known use: 1604

Frequently Asked Questions about Succumb

What does "Succumb" mean?

"Succumb" means to yield to superior strength or force or overpowering appeal or desire. As a verb, it is defined as: to yield to superior strength or force or overpowering appeal or desire. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Succumb"?

Other words for "Succumb" include blink, bow, budge, capitulate, concede, give in, knuckle under and quit. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Succumb" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Succumb"?

There are 67 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Succumb". Common alternatives include blink, bow, budge, capitulate, concede, give in, knuckle under, quit, relent and submit.

What is a slang word for "Succumb"?

Slang words for "Succumb" include croak, kick in and kick off.

What is the opposite of "Succumb"?

Antonyms of "Succumb" include resist, hold off, breathe, live, endure and stand. Near antonyms include contend, fight, battle and breast.

How do you use "Succumb" in a sentence?

Examples of "Succumb" in a sentence: "he finally succumbed and let his wife get rid of his dilapidated easy chair"; "refused to succumb to her fears and defiantly walked through the dark cemetery"; "the patient lay so still and pale that everyone thought he had succumbed, and then he opened his eyes".

Is "Succumb" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Succumb" is a verb.

How do you pronounce "Succumb"?

"Succumb" is pronounced /sə-ˈkəm/ and divided into syllables as suc·cumb.