Definition

1. Verb:
   • To surrender or yield, typically under specific, agreed-upon conditions after negotiation or resistance. It implies giving up on demands or ceasing opposition formally.

Usage and Examples

• Verb:
  • After a long siege, the city was forced to capitulate.
  • The company refused to capitulate to the union's demands without further discussion.
  • He finally capitulated and agreed to their terms.

Advanced Usage

• "to capitulate to [someone/something]": This is the most common construction, indicating the entity to which one surrenders.
  • The government was pressured to capitulate to the rebels' ultimatum.
• The word often carries a connotation of yielding reluctantly or as a last resort, rather than a willing submission.

Variants and Related Words

• Capitulation (n): The act of capitulating; the document containing the terms of surrender.
  • The treaty was a formal capitulation.
• Capitulant (n): A person who capitulates. (This is a rare, formal term.)

Synonyms

• Surrender: To give up completely.
• Yield: To give way to pressure or force.
• Submit: To accept or yield to a superior force.
• Succumb: To fail to resist pressure, temptation, or illness (can be used figuratively).

Antonyms

• Resist: To withstand the action or effect of.
• Defy: To openly resist or refuse to obey.
• Prevail: To prove more powerful or superior.

Notes on Meaning

• Capitulate vs. Surrender: While often used interchangeably, more strongly implies surrender based on pre-arranged terms or conditions. can be more general and unconditional.
• The word is most frequently used in contexts of war, conflict, negotiation, or intense debate where one side formally gives in.

Verb

1. surrender under agreed conditions