verb

succumb

/səˈkʌm/ · say it: suh·KUM

to yield to an overwhelming force

In Actions & Behavior

In more detail

1. (verb) to give in to something you cannot resist or that is very strong

2. (verb) to die from an illness or injury

Examples

1. She finally succumbed to temptation and ordered dessert.
2. He succumbed to pneumonia after weeks of illness.

How to use succumb

Succumb is a more formal and literary verb than casual alternatives like 'give in' or 'yield'. It emphasizes the inevitability or irresistibility of what one yields to, whether a desire, force, or medical condition. It often appears in written or formal contexts and carries a tone of resignation or defeat.

Common phrases

succumb to pressure
succumb to temptation
succumb to disease
succumb to an illness
succumb to infection

Synonyms

yield · surrender · give in · capitulate · submit

Opposites

resist · withstand

Word family

succumbed (past tense) · succumbing (present participle)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes misspell it as 'succomb' or 'succum'; remember the double c and double m.

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