Vocabulary Spotlight
Capitulate
Part of Speech: Verb
Definition: To cease to resist an opponent or unwelcome demand; surrender.
“After a prolonged negotiation, they finally capitulated to the terms of the deal.”
Pronunciation
[kuh-pich-uh-leyt]
Synonyms, Antonyms & Related Words
Synonyms
Yield
Submit
Relent
Give in
Antonyms
Defy
Withstand
Fight
Hold out
Related Words
Capitulated (verb)
Word Origin
“Capitulate” originates from the Latin “capitulare,” meaning “to draw up in chapters or headings,” as agreements were historically recorded in sections before concluding with surrender.
Word Family
Noun: Capitulation – The act of surrendering or giving up.
Verb: Capitulated – Past tense of capitulate, meaning surrendered or yielded.
Mnemonics
Think “Capitulate” as “Cap-it-late” – giving up after trying for a long time.
Industry-specific Usage
Military
Capitulation is often used in military contexts to describe the act of surrendering to a more powerful force.
Business
In business negotiations, a company may capitulate if it agrees to terms after prolonged bargaining.
Politics
In diplomacy, capitulation refers to a country yielding to demands to avoid conflict.
In Context
In negotiations, individuals or groups may capitulate after prolonged resistance, especially when faced with strong opposition or lack of alternatives.