1
as in to relinquish
to give (something) over to the control or possession of another usually under duress
the toddler surrendered the doll to her mother after a brief struggle the commander surrendered the garrison without having fired a single shot
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2
as in to succumb
to cease resistance (as to another's arguments, demands, or control)
the father refused to surrender to his son's constant begging for a BB gun
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3
as in to resign
to give up (as a position of authority) formally
the aging queen refused to surrender the throne to her increasingly impatient heir
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4
as in to submit
to give up and cease resistance (as to a liking, temptation, or habit)
determined to give up smoking, she so far has not surrendered to her incessant desire to have a cigarette
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5
as in to capitulate
to yield to the control or power of enemy forces
General Robert E. Lee surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant on April 9, 1865, thus ending the Civil War
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6
as in to indulge
to give (oneself) over to something especially unrestrainedly
laid-off workers who surrender themselves to despair will almost certainly never regain their footing
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as in submission
the usually forced yielding of one's person or possessions to the control of another
the police demanded the surrender of all hostages as a condition for allowing the hijackers safe passage out of the country
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of surrender
Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Sep. 2025
Before too long, though, Sacrifice ventures off into much stranger, more sincere territory, becoming a drama that mulls over surrendering to a higher power.
—Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 7 Sep. 2025
Chad De Guzman, Time, 3 Sep. 2025
Chinese President Xi Jinping was joined by around 20 world leaders, including Russia's Vladimir Putin and North Korea's Kim Jong Il, in Tiananmen Square to mark the 80th anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II.
—Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for surrender
Verb
Weber State, meanwhile, is coming off a 45–10 loss to James Madison in which the Wildcats surrendered 313 rushing yards.
—Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Sep. 2025
Before too long, though, Sacrifice ventures off into much stranger, more sincere territory, becoming a drama that mulls over surrendering to a higher power.
—Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 7 Sep. 2025
Noun
Chinese President Xi Jinping led the parade, which marked the 80th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II, at Tiananmen Square.
—Chad De Guzman, Time, 3 Sep. 2025
Chinese President Xi Jinping was joined by around 20 world leaders, including Russia's Vladimir Putin and North Korea's Kim Jong Il, in Tiananmen Square to mark the 80th anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II.
—Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for surrender
Recent Examples of Synonyms for surrender
Verb
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In May 2025, Kraft Heinz announced a strategic review aimed at unlocking shareholder value, and Berkshire Hathaway relinquished its board seats, signaling potential structural changes.—
Joe Cornell,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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Shortly after Rose took the helm at the pageant, both Miss USA 2023 Noelia Voigt and Miss Teen USA UmaSofia Srivastava relinquished their titles.—
Tabitha Parent,
PEOPLE,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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There are those participants who safeguard their humanity amid such high stakes (like Cooper Hoffman's Garraty and David Jonsson's McVries) and those who succumb to the temptations of the game (like Charlie Plummer's Barkovitch).—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 Sep. 2025
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The Kennedale Fire Department attempted lifesaving measures, but the man succumbed to his injuries, authorities said in a news release.—
Fousia Abdullahi,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Elizondo resigned and went public in October 2017 after 10 years of running a Pentagon program to investigate UFO sightings.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
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Along with Monarez, the committee will hear from Debra Houry, the former chief medical officer for the CDC, who resigned—alongside two other high-ranking CDC leaders—upon Monarez's ouster.—
Beth Mole,
ArsTechnica,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Kave submitted a letter about the layoffs to the North Carolina Department of Commerce and Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles last Thursday.—
Chase Jordan,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Sep. 2025
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François Bayrou submitted his resignation to President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday, who accepted it.—
Saskya Vandoorne,
CNN Money,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Yes, perhaps firms run by alums will be willing to indulge a few interested faculty from their alma mater.—
Shivaram Rajgopal,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
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At one point Wednesday, the judge indulged their request to meet with Adelson and the attorneys at a side bar out of the public’s earshot.—
Lauren del Valle,
CNN Money,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
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At the 82nd Venice International Film Festival, the Reply AI Film Festival named Love at First Sight by Jacopo Reale, its Grand Prize winner, The AI Film Festival announced winners during the 82nd Venice International Film Festival, selecting from over 2,500 submissions from 67 countries.—
Charlie Fink,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
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This year’s submission pool demonstrated TCCF’s expanding international reach, with entries from 44 nations totaling nearly 700 projects.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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This deepening also has an index in the formal features of his poetry—the ambiguity of his pronouns, the firm particularity of his register of images—which teeters between the mundane and the epiphanic, and renders this imbalance itself into view.—
Elaine L. Wang
September 11,
Literary Hub,
11 Sep. 2025
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When workers are used as invisible inputs in opaque AI systems that determine hiring, promotions and surveillance protocols, their autonomy can be eroded—and traditional labor rights rendered toothless.—
James Felton Keith,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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On the 18th hole of the final match, Nicklaus sank his par putt and then conceded Tony Jacklin’s short par putt, ensuring both the match and the Ryder Cup ended in a tie.—
Tim Corlett,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
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But Democrats have long conceded that the party needs a new vision after voters soundly rejected their presidential ticket last fall, and internal squabbles about the party’s future have spilled out into the public.—
Mabinty Quarshie,
The Washington Examiner,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Surrender.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surrender. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
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