Capitulate

/kəˈpɪt͡ʃ.jʊ.leɪt/

Synonyms for "capitulate" (55 found)

Ranked by relevance and common usage.

Closest matches (11)

abandonacceptacknowledge defeatacquiescebeg a trucebowcave
Verb(3 words)
Noun(1 words)

Strong matches (17)

cedecome to termsconcedecry paxcry quitsdeferfallgivegive ingive overgive up
Verb(3 words)
concedegive way under pressuregiving in
Noun(3 words)
concedingfolding mechanismgive in to demands

Related words (27)

implore mercyknuckleknuckle underlosepray for quarterrelentrelinquishrenouncesay unclesubmissivesubmitsuccumbsurrenderyieldyield the palm
Verb(8 words)
settlesuccumb to fatiguesuccumbedsuccumbssurrendersurrenderedyieldyield to pressure
Noun(4 words)
surrenderingsurrendersyielded to pressureyields

Choosing the right synonym

  • Closest matches in this entry: abandon, accede, accept, acknowledge defeat, acquiesce.
  • Sentence evidence is available for capitulate, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
  • Ranking signals come from moby, opengloss, derived_reverse.

Synonym selection checklist

  • Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
  • Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
  • Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "capitulate".
  • Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.

When not to replace "capitulate"

Keep "capitulate" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.

If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.

Replacement workflow

1. Preserve meaning

Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "capitulate" intact in the sentence you are editing.

2. Tune tone

Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.

3. Re-read context

Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.

Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.

Final fit check

After choosing a replacement for "capitulate", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.

If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "capitulate" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.

Related word relations

OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.

5 relation types

More general

7 entries

More specific

7 entries
consent decreemilitary surrendernegotiated concessionnegotiated surrenderpolicy reversalsettlement agreementunconditional surrender

Collocations

5 entries
capitulate after negotiationscapitulate to demandscapitulate to superior forcecapitulate unconditionallycapitulate under pressure

Inflections

3 entries

Derivations

3 entries

Sample sentences

11 total sentences available.

Tatoeba + Wiktionary

Capitulate!

Source: tatoeba (6583252)

I must capitulate.

Source: tatoeba (10284717)

Tom had no choice but to capitulate.

Source: tatoeba (10747619)

He argued and hollered for so long that I finally capitulated just to make him stop.

Source: wiktionary

Showing 4 of 11 available sentences.

Common questions

What are the closest synonyms for "capitulate"?

Closest matches include abandon, accede, accept, acknowledge defeat, acquiesce.

How should I check whether a synonym fits "capitulate"?

Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.

More for "capitulate"