tussle, challenge, attack, threaten, mire, impede, disrespect, deteriorate, criticize, confront, jockey, dicker, rehash, quibble, degenerate, devolve into, blame, insist, fault, dredge up, refuse to (compromise), walk away (from the table)

drag, settle, break down, surrender, collapse, muddle, disintegrate, fall apart, deteriorate, fail, persist, lapse, devolve into, fail to reach (an agreement), fail to (negotiate a contract)

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

concede, surrender, forfeit, give up, resign oneself, write off, return, refund, sacrifice, cost, allow, walk away, pay for, settle for, pay (a penalty/a fine), accept (a small compensation)

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

protest, claim, deny, dance around, field, justify, substantiate, contextualize, snap back, dispute, reference, account for, excuse, counter, overstate, validate, puff, glorify (one's role), make excuses, rationalize, reiterate, attest, vindicate, explain, contend, qualify, restate, bend (the truth), defend (one's position), work out (a justification), cover (all one's bases), give a justification for, answer for, give an explanation for

brush aside, elude, evade, attack, ignore, bluff, exaggerate, oversimplify, omit (information), deflect, deviate, reject, divert (attention), parry, dodge, stave off, justify, maintain, complain, skirt, excuse, dismiss, avert, dance around (the topic), make excuses, recant, wander, qualify, ramble, tune out, digress, stray (off-topic)

outline, sketch, illuminate, inform, justify, update, advise, brief, summarize, account for, defend, interpret, notify, explain, posit, explicate, recap, spell out, put forth, offer (an explanation), apprise, fill in, bring up to date, paint a picture, clue in, keep posted

blast, hammer, push, prod, scold, nudge, remind, criticize, noodge, confront, harp, berate, hack away at, goad, lecture, shout at, harangue, preach, argue (a point), rant, savage