What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
succumb
Example
I couldn't resist the temptation and succumbed to eating the whole cake. [succumbed: past tense]
Example
The patient succumbed to the virus after a long battle. [succumbed: past participle]
Example
The army eventually succumbed to the enemy's superior firepower. [succumbed: verb]
surrender
Example
The general ordered his troops to surrender to the enemy. [surrender: verb]
Example
After years of fighting, the rebels finally surrendered to the government. [surrendered: past tense]
Example
I had to surrender my passport at the airport security checkpoint. [surrender: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Surrender is more commonly used than succumb in everyday language. Surrender is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while succumb is less common and refers to specific situations.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between succumb and surrender?
Both succumb and surrender can be used in formal or informal language, but surrender is more versatile and can be employed in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts.
