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to capitulate

to capitulate

23 8.4
To stop fighting back and accept defeat or demands
  • verb
  • /kəˈpɪtʃʊˌleɪt/
translation icon : ceder a
  • Sweden, Spain, Ireland and France all eventually capitulated and devalued their currencies against the Deutsche Mark.
  • capitulated to demands
  • eventually capitulated
  • refuses to capitulate

It doesn't feel good to give in or capitulate to the narcissistic person.

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Examples

  • After days of fierce fighting, the soldiers finally capitulated to the superior enemy forces.

  • The company capitulated to the demands of the workers, agreeing to better pay and benefits.

  • But we cannot capitulate in the war on crime.

  • Even I had to capitulate in the face of such a thing.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • Nation after nation will capitulate.

  • Still, William refused to capitulate and surrender his son to the enemy.

    Academic text (2008)
  • If I were you, sir, I would yield, submit, and capitulate.

  • As a result, Vyakhirev capitulated and promised to pay $500 million a month.

    Academic text (1999)
  • The entire French Ninth Army, some 200,000 men, have capitulated.

  • By June 14, 1982, the Argentines capitulated after losing much personnel and equipment.

    Academic text (1992)

Synonyms

to give up
vsto capitulate
1.2

To stop trying to do something or accept defeat

is a formal cessation of resistance often settled by terms
to quit
vsto capitulate
653 1.5

To stop trying when something is too hard

is surrender framed as agreed cessation between opposing parties
to give in
vsto capitulate
220 3.0

To stop resisting and agree to what others want

is surrender framed as a formal, negotiated end rather than mere giving up
to submit
vsto capitulate
187 4.1

To accept another person's control, often against your wishes

is surrender focused on an agreed cessation of resistance rather than simple submission
to bow
vsto capitulate
127 6.3

To give in to another person's wishes or demands

is a formal surrender that ends conflict by agreement rather than polite yielding
to stand down
vsto capitulate
123 5.1

To stop doing a job, duty or action after someone tells you to

is a negotiated surrender to an opponent rather than stepping back temporarily
to back down
vsto capitulate
107 3.7

To stop insisting because others oppose you

is a formal surrender that ends resistance through agreed terms
to yield
vsto capitulate
81 4.3

To stop resisting under pressure or force

is a formal surrender often arranged with agreed terms
to cave
vsto capitulate
  • Informal
71 6.7

To give in to pressure or demands

is a more formal surrender often settled by agreement
to succumb to
vsto capitulate
69 5.8

Fail to resist a strong feeling or pressure and give in

describes a formal surrender often involving agreed conditions
to succumb
vsto capitulate
43 7.0

To accept something you tried to refuse

implies a formal, arranged surrender rather than personal concession
to relent
vsto capitulate
31 5.8

To stop resisting and allow something to happen, like a person giving in or a storm easing

is a negotiated stop to resistance rather than a gradual change of mind
to throw in
vsto capitulate
  • Informal
29 4.9

Stop trying because you cannot win

is formal surrender often involving terms, not just quitting effort
to acquiesce
vsto capitulate
  • Formal
20 8.4

To accept something you do not want without complaining

involves formal surrender or negotiated terms rather than quiet acceptance
to concede
vsto capitulate
13 5.5

To give something to another person or group against your will

is surrender that usually involves formal agreement rather than small loss
to cave to
vsto capitulate
  • Informal
5 7.6

To give in to pressure or demands from others

is a formal surrender usually arranged with terms rather than informal yielding
to wave the white flag
vsto capitulate
  • Informal
4 4.0

To stop trying and accept that you lost

is an organised surrender often agreed between parties rather than symbolic defeat
to give ground
vsto capitulate
3 4.9

To accept less than you want in a discussion to reach an agreement

is full surrender rather than merely conceding some points
to buckle under
vsto capitulate
2 6.7

To give in to pressure even though you do not want to

implies negotiated surrender rather than collapse under pressure
to say uncle
vsto capitulate
  • Informal
2 8.9

To give up because of pressure or pain

is a formal surrender usually involving negotiated conditions
to buckle to
vsto capitulate
2 8.4

To give in to pressure or criticism

involves formal, often agreed capitulation rather than simple yielding
to cry uncle
vsto capitulate
  • Informal
1 8.8

To admit you give up when someone pressures you

is formal surrender typically settled by agreement rather than casual admission

Antonyms

311 2.2

Act against authority, rules or change

139 3.7

To refuse to give up until you get what you want

How Resistant

to fight
1.0
to resist
311 2.2
to refuse
716 1.7
to give in
220 3.0
to capitulate
23 8.4
to surrender
722 4.4

Surface Forms

capitulate infinitive
capitulated past participle
capitulating present participle
capitulates third person singular

Etymology

Capitulate comes from the Latin word capitulum, which meant 'little head' and later 'chapter', a short section that often listed rules or terms. Because people once agreed to conditions written in these 'chapters', capitulate came to mean 'agree to terms' or give up resisting, which is why today it means to surrender.