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Definitions

throw in the towel

VERB
accede
Synonyms
STRONGEST
acquiesce
STRONG
accept admit allow assent comply concede concur cooperate endorse fold grant let okay permit subscribe yield
WEAK
be game for cave in cry uncle enter into give the go-ahead give the green light go along with play ball roll over and play dead
Antonyms
STRONG
decline deny disagree disallow disapprove dispute dissent forbid hinder hold impede keep obstruct oppose prevent protest refuse reject repel repudiate resist veto
WEAK
condemn demur denounce
VERB
back out
Synonyms
STRONGEST
back down cancel give up renege surrender
WEAK
avoid back pedal beg off blow it off chicken out cop out get cold feet go back on recant resign scratch shy from weasel out wiggle out worm out
VERB
cede
Synonyms
STRONGEST
capitulate communicate concede give in give up grant hand over relinquish renounce sign over transfer waive
STRONG
abdicate accord alien alienate allow convey drop fold leave resign vouchsafe yield
WEAK
abalienate come across with deed fork over make over part with remise throw in the sponge
Antonyms
STRONGEST
fight hold keep refuse
STRONG
challenge continue deny disallow disapprove maintain oppose reject retain withhold
WEAK
defend gain guard take over win
VERB
chicken out
Synonyms
WEAK
avoid back down back out back pedal beg off blow it off bow out cancel cop out funk out get cold feet give up give way go back on have no stomach for make concessions pull out recant renege resign scratch shy from surrender turn yellow weasel out wiggle out wimp out withdraw worm out yield
VERB
concede
Synonyms
STRONGEST
accept admit allow capitulate cave in cede confess give up grant hand over quit relinquish surrender yield
STRONG
accord avow award ditto fold own waive
WEAK
bury the hatchet cry uncle fess up go along with go with the flow knuckle under let on own up play ball with say uncle yes one
Antonyms
STRONGEST
defend deny disallow disapprove dispute fight hold keep refuse reject repudiate veto win
WEAK
contradict disacknowledge disagree dissent
VERB
consent
Synonyms
STRONGEST
acquiesce comply give in subscribe
STRONG
accede accept allow approve assent bless concede concur fold let okay permit sanction yes yield
WEAK
give the nod give up knuckle under make a deal roll over say uncle say yes sign off on
Antonyms
STRONGEST
disagree
STRONG
condemn demur deny disallow disapprove dispute dissent forbid hold keep oppose prevent protest refuse reject repudiate veto
WEAK
differ object
VERB
give in/give up
Synonyms
WEAK
abandon back down bail out bow out buckle under capitulate cave in cease cede chicken out collapse comply concede cry uncle cut out desist despair drop drop like a hot potato fold forswear hand over leave off pull out quit relinquish resign stop submit surrender take the oath waive walk out on wash one's hands of yield
Antonyms
WEAK
fight hold out stand up to withstand
VERB
resign
Synonyms
STRONG
abandon abdicate capitulate cede drop fold forgo forsake leave quit relinquish renounce retire secede surrender terminate vacate waive yield
WEAK
bail out bow out cease work demit divorce oneself from drop out end service give notice give up the ship hand in resignation hand over hang it up separate oneself from sign off stand aside stand down step down turn over walk out wash hands of
Antonyms
STRONG
assert begin claim come continue defend do fight hold join keep maintain pursue remain retain win
WEAK
agree take on
VERB
step down
Synonyms
STRONGEST
abandon abdicate bow out drop out leave quit retire terminate
WEAK
cease work give notice hand in resignation hang it up sign off walk out
Antonyms
STRONGEST
assert begin come continue defend hold join keep maintain remain retain
VERB
submit
Synonyms
STRONGEST
acknowledge agree defer surrender
STRONG
abide accede acquiesce appease bend bow buckle capitulate cave cede concede fold humor indulge knuckle kowtow obey quit relent relinquish stoop succumb tolerate truckle withstand yield
WEAK
be submissive eat crow give away give ground give in give way go with the flow grin and bear it knuckle under lay down arms put up with resign oneself say uncle toe the line
Antonyms
STRONGEST
contradict refuse
STRONG
continue defend deny disagree disallow disapprove dispute dissent fight flatten leave protest reject stop straighten veto win
WEAK
conceal disobey dissuade hide resist
VERB
succumb
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bow break down buckle capitulate cave in cease defer give in give way go down pass away perish quit wilt yield
STRONG
accede cave collapse croak decease demise depart drop expire fall fold go knuckle pass submit
WEAK
eat crow fall victim to flake out give in to give out give up the ghost go under knuckle under meet waterloo pack it in show white flag take the count
Antonyms
STRONGEST
continue defend fight
STRONG
ascend deny refuse rise stay
WEAK
conquer overcome win
VERB
surrender
Synonyms
STRONGEST
abandon capitulate cede commit concede give in hand over leave quit relinquish renounce submit succumb waive yield
STRONG
consign entrust fall fold knuckle
WEAK
buckle under cave in cry uncle deliver up eat crow eat humble pie go along with go down go under knuckle under let go pack it in part with play dead put up white flag roll over toss it in
Antonyms
STRONGEST
come continue defend fight hold keep refuse reject retain win
WEAK
conquer surpass
VERB
yield
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bow buy capitulate give up give way leave succumb
STRONG
abandon abdicate bend break cede collapse crumple defer fold go knuckle relax relent relinquish resign sag submit
WEAK
admit defeat back down call it quits cave in come to terms fold up give oneself over hand over knuckle under lay down arms let go part with suffer defeat
Antonyms
STRONGEST
defend fight
STRONG
agree assert build hide hold increase keep retain rise stay straighten
WEAK
counter deny disallow disapprove oppose prevent refuse reject veto withhold

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Every year thousands of dairy farms throw in the towel altogether, which comes with broader implications for America and rural communities.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

NPR is tracking the number of lawmakers who have decided to throw in the towel this year.

From Slate • Jan. 14, 2026

In this regard, bull-market tops are not the mirror opposite of bear-market bottoms, which often are characterized by plunging sentiment as the last remaining optimists throw in the towel.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 2, 2025

Chasing 233, the Proteas were on the ropes at 78-5, but their tail refused to throw in the towel, showing the same grit that saw them turn the tables on India in their previous outing.

From Barron's • Oct. 13, 2025

Because of their ravaged state when they arrived in camp the previous evening, I’d assumed that both men would decide to throw in the towel.

From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer