SURRENDER Synonyms: 151 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'surrender' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of surrender are abandon , relinquish , resign , waive , and yield . While all these words mean "to give up completely," surrender implies a giving up after a struggle to retain or resist. // surrendered their claims

Q: In what contexts can 'abandon' take the place of 'surrender'?

While the synonyms abandon and surrender are close in meaning, abandon stresses finality and completeness in giving up. // abandoned all hope

Q: When might 'relinquish' be a better fit than 'surrender'?

The synonyms relinquish and surrender are sometimes interchangeable, but relinquish usually does not imply strong feeling but may suggest some regret, reluctance, or weakness. // relinquished her crown

Q: When would 'resign' be a good substitute for 'surrender'?

The words resign and surrender are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, resign emphasizes voluntary relinquishment or sacrifice without struggle. // resigned her position

Q: When can 'waive' be used instead of 'surrender'?

The meanings of waive and surrender largely overlap; however, waive implies conceding or forgoing with little or no compulsion. // waived the right to a trial by jury

Q: When is it sensible to use 'yield' instead of 'surrender'?

In some situations, the words yield and surrender are roughly equivalent. However, yield implies concession or compliance or submission to force. // the troops yielded ground grudgingly

surrender 1 of 2

verb

sə-ˈren-dər

Definition of surrender

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

surrender

2 of 2

noun

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

resistance

Synonym Chooser

How is the word surrender different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of surrender are abandon, relinquish, resign, waive, and yield. While all these words mean "to give up completely," surrender implies a giving up after a struggle to retain or resist.

surrendered their claims

In what contexts can abandon take the place of surrender?

While the synonyms abandon and surrender are close in meaning, abandon stresses finality and completeness in giving up.

abandoned all hope

When might relinquish be a better fit than surrender?

The synonyms relinquish and surrender are sometimes interchangeable, but relinquish usually does not imply strong feeling but may suggest some regret, reluctance, or weakness.

relinquished her crown

When would resign be a good substitute for surrender?

The words resign and surrender are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, resign emphasizes voluntary relinquishment or sacrifice without struggle.

resigned her position

When can waive be used instead of surrender?

The meanings of waive and surrender largely overlap; however, waive implies conceding or forgoing with little or no compulsion.

waived the right to a trial by jury

When is it sensible to use yield instead of surrender?

In some situations, the words yield and surrender are roughly equivalent. However, yield implies concession or compliance or submission to force.

the troops yielded ground grudgingly

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of surrender

Verb

Wandy Peralta, who went the entire month of June (14 games, 18 innings) without giving up a run, surrendered two in the ninth last night and has now allowed 14 runs in his past 13 games (12⅔ innings). — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Aug. 2026 On Monday, 21-year-old Javid Edwin, accompanied by a lawyer, surrendered at the 50th Precinct stationhouse and was charged with murder, manslaughter and weapon possession, cops said. — Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 3 Aug. 2026

Noun

Yet instead of providing clarity, his surprise succession plan sparks confusion and frustration among the McBee family, all while emotions run high ahead of his surrender. — Deirdre Durkan, PEOPLE, 21 July 2026 That was a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a collective moment in England and, instead, his decisions led to an embarrassing surrender that will linger in minds for decades. — The Athletic Uk Staff, New York Times, 16 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for surrender

Recent Examples of Synonyms for surrender

Verb

Giudice survived prison, divorce and years of family warfare without relinquishing her place at the center of New Jersey.

— Maer Roshan, HollywoodReporter, 4 Aug. 2026
The central distinguishing feature of the Saudi model is its refusal to relinquish sensitive components of the nuclear fuel cycle—above all, uranium enrichment—to multinational ownership or control.

— Yoel Guzansky, Foreign Affairs, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of relinquish

Verb

Despite Penta's aggressive offense and dangerous maneuvers, Gable persevered, ultimately making Penta submit with a decisive ankle lock, securing a triumphant and emotional victory.

— Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
On Friday, Pirro submitted a court filing moving to dismiss the indictment against David Hearn, a former Olympian who was charged earlier in the month for vandalizing the reflecting pool.

— Ted Johnson, Deadline, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of submit

Verb

The framework gained popularity as systems of education seemed to over-indulge rote memorization.

— James Davis, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Sure, the Russo brothers lay on the quips and fan service a little thick, but after 11 years and 21 movies, they’re allowed to indulge.

— EW Staff, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of indulge

Noun

Apple is limiting the number of submissions security experts can make to its Apple Security Bounty program.

— Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 5 Aug. 2026
Other grant recipients include Pepe director Nelson Carlo de los Santos Arias and the director of Mongolia’s 2024 international Oscar submission, City of Wind, Lkhagvadulam Purev-Ochir.

— Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of submission

Verb

Nerve pathways rendered with a precision photography still cannot match.

— Jason Snyder, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026
Dawicki hopes the test will reduce the unnecessary use of antibiotics, and slow the current march toward antibiotic resistance that has already rendered several antibiotics ineffective.

— Alice Park, Time, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of render

Verb

The lesson here – and one the NBCU-Peacock-YouTube deal concedes – is that a media company just isn’t the mountain that Mohammed goes to – the consumers are the mountain.

— Howard Homonoff, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Malawi scored and conceded four goals, Nigeria three, and Zambia two, leaving them still tied with head-to-head goal differentials of zero.

— Tamerra Griffin, New York Times, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of concede

Browse Nearby Words

surreality

surrender

surrendered

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Surrender.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surrender. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of surrender

verb

noun

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