bend, stoop, shut up, back away/off, retreat, surrender, buckle, weaken, yield, stand down, cope, comply, submit to, abandon (hope), ingratiate, relent, capitulate, lose ground, deign, defer to, give in/up, give up/in, hold in/back, recant, throw in the towel, step down, withdraw (demands), concede defeat, damp down, submit (one's resignation), admit defeat, knuckle under, sneak off, drop out (of a race), desist, disavow

protect, shift (the balance of power), play (politics), throw one's weight around, gain (favor), resort to, bribe, bluff, risk, gamble, play to a strength, stipulate, favor, tempt, tip the balance, tap into (resources), exert, edge in, bring (resources) to bear, stand up to, appeal (for mercy)

bend, stoop, fold, break, compromise, concede, submit, retreat, surrender, buckle, cut one's losses, jettison, weaken, sink, hand over, abdicate, back (away/down), yield, forfeit, succumb, resign oneself to, accept, comply, conform, withdraw, lose, trade, repay, swap, wither, sacrifice, flag, relent, apologize, capitulate, oblige, wilt, give in/up, cave in, forgo, come away with, cave, drop (one's agenda), shut down (a venture), settle for, admit (defeat), promise to, agree to (monitoring), grant (copyright/authorship), waive (one's rights), split (the difference), be the bigger person, disavow