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Showing results for knuckle. Search instead for knuckleba.
Definitions

knuckle

[nuhk-uhl] / ˈnʌk əl /
VERB
bow
Synonyms
STRONGEST
accept acquiesce bend capitulate comply defer give in kowtow relent succumb surrender yield
STRONG
cave
WEAK
be servile knuckle under
Antonyms
STRONGEST
conquer decline deny disagree disallow fight oppose refuse reject win
WEAK
defend overpower
VERB
defer
Synonyms
STRONGEST
adjust admit agree bow submit
STRONG
accede accommodate acquiesce adapt assent buckle capitulate cave comply concede cringe fawn kowtow obey succumb truckle
WEAK
give in to knuckleunder
Antonyms
STRONGEST
dispute dissent fight refuse
STRONG
deny disagree disarrange disobey protest reject
WEAK
advance expedite force forge forward hasten hurry
VERB
submit
Synonyms
STRONGEST
acknowledge agree defer surrender
STRONG
abide accede acquiesce appease bend bow buckle capitulate cave cede concede fold humor indulge 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 throw in the towel 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 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 throw in the towel
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
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 throw in the towel 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 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 throw in the towel
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.

“Those tools are expensive when applied to you even if we don’t win at the end of the day, so knuckle under.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 12, 2026

"Obviously things change as you move on but we just want to knuckle down."

From BBC • Jan. 14, 2026

This kit includes everything you need to make eight luxurious rolls: two pounds of Maine knuckle and claw meat, eight open-top buns, a half-pint of lemony mayo, and the butter to toast the rolls in.

From Salon • Dec. 4, 2025

It scrapes the top of one knuckle, does a bit of a dive to the second knuckle … and then scoots along.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 14, 2025

He had found the knot, the tension node, and he homed in on it with a practiced knuckle.

From "Farewell to Manzanar" by Jeanne Houston