capitulate

USAGE SUMMARY

'capitulate' is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is usually used to mean 'agree to terms or conditions after resisting them'. For example, "After a long negotiation, the two sides finally capitulated and came to an agreement."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A country full of doubts and fears, though emphatic in its message that envisager un report, c'est capituler – "to consider postponing is to capitulate" – as the head of the tournament's organising committee has put it.

Independent

With only an outline sketch of an agreement on the table, many of Europe's most senior policymakers are of the opinion that a crisis point will be reached and that Athens's radical left Syriza government will be forced to either capitulate to Brussels or quit the euro.

The Guardian

If things carry on like this then, by the end of this summer, Syriza will either take Greece out of the euro or – however large its democratic mandate – it will be forced to chuck its electoral promises and capitulate.

The Guardian - Opinion

Having joined Davis on the stump, it would now be exceedingly difficult for him to capitulate and allow the government to push the counter-terrorism bill through via the Parliament Act.

The Guardian - Opinion

"No Australian government should be subjected to the spectacle of people saying, 'Unless you accept us, I am going to commit self-harm.' "I don't believe any Australian – any thinking Australian – would want us to capitulate to moral blackmail".

The Guardian

Johnson – I refuse absolutely to capitulate to the habit of calling him by his first name in print and hereby urge all fellow members of the Society of Columnists and Allied Trades to do the same – has won two successive head-to-head contests against Labour in a city that has been moving leftwards in most other recent elections.

The Guardian - Opinion

He refused to speculate on whether Greece would be forced to default on its debts, but said the government had contingency plans in the event that the worst-affected eurozone country did capitulate.

The Guardian - Business

There are no guarantees, but it is still odds-on that Greece will capitulate.

The Guardian - Business

"On Saturday, we saw an in-form Aston Villa totally capitulate against Southampton, getting demolished 6-1," writeSimonon.

The Guardian - Sport

When attacked by critics, the faithful tend to circle the wagons, only to capitulate as soon as some scientific school of thought convinces them that disaster is imminent.

The Economist

Since it patently failed to do any of them, the implication seems to be that South-East Asia is headed for the scrap-heap.Don't capitulate, imitateThe best way to respond would be for South-East Asian governments to do better on several fronts.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "capitulate" when you want to convey a sense of finality in surrendering or giving in, especially after a period of resistance or negotiation. It's often used in contexts involving conflicts, negotiations, or strong disagreements.

Common error

Avoid using "capitulate" when simply agreeing with someone without any prior resistance or disagreement. "Agree" or "concur" are more appropriate in those cases.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "capitulate" is as an intransitive verb. It describes the action of surrendering or ceasing resistance, often implying a negotiation or conflict has preceded the act of yielding. As Ludwig AI suggests, it describes agreeing to terms after resisting them.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Encyclopedias

35%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "capitulate" functions as an intransitive verb that describes the act of surrendering or giving in, often after resistance. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage. The word is grammatically correct and frequently appears in news articles, encyclopedias, and scientific texts, reflecting a neutral to formal tone. When used, it is essential to consider the nuance of conveying a complete surrender, distinguishing it from mere agreement. The alternative phrases such as "surrender unconditionally", "give in" offer related but subtly different ways to convey the concept of submission.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

surrender unconditionally

Emphasizes the complete and unrestricted nature of the surrender, removing any possibility of negotiation or compromise.

give in

A more informal way to say "capitulate", implying a yielding to pressure or persuasion.

yield

Suggests a reluctant but ultimately necessary submission to a superior force or argument.

submit

Implies a formal acceptance of authority or control, often in a hierarchical context.

succumb

Suggests a giving way to something overpowering or irresistible, like temptation or disease.

acquiesce

Indicates a passive acceptance of something without protest, often reluctantly.

cave in

Emphasizes a sudden collapse of resistance, often under pressure.

defer

Implies yielding to someone else's judgment or authority, often in a respectful manner.

bow down

Suggests a humble and reverent submission, often in a religious or ceremonial context.

cry uncle

An informal idiom indicating that someone is giving up in a contest or struggle.

FAQs

How to use "capitulate" in a sentence?

You can use "capitulate" to describe a situation where someone gives in or surrenders, such as, "After hours of debate, the committee finally decided to "capitulate" to the demands of the protesters."

What can I say instead of "capitulate"?

You can use alternatives like "give in", "surrender", or "yield" depending on the context.

Is "capitulate" formal or informal?

"Capitulate" is generally considered a formal word. In less formal contexts, consider using synonyms like "give up" or "cave in".

What's the difference between "capitulate" and "compromise"?

"Capitulate" implies a complete surrender, while "compromise" suggests that both sides make concessions. If one side "capitulates", they give in entirely; if they "compromise", they meet the other side partway.