What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
succumb
Example
He succumbed to his injuries and passed away. [succumbed: past tense]
Example
I couldn't resist the temptation and succumbed to eating the whole cake. [succumbed: past participle]
capitulate
Example
The army was forced to capitulate after months of fighting. [capitulate: verb]
Example
The company had to capitulate to the union's demands to avoid a strike. [capitulate: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Succumb is more common in everyday language than capitulate, as it covers a wider range of contexts. However, capitulate is more commonly used in formal or legal contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between succumb and capitulate?
Capitulate is generally considered more formal than succumb, as it is often used in legal or diplomatic contexts.
