caved

Buckled under pressure

Caved is the past tense of cave, most often appearing in the phrase caved in.

When a structure caves in, it collapses inward, usually from pressure or structural failure: The roof caved in under the weight of the snow.

Figuratively, if someone caved or caved in, they yielded to pressure or gave up resistance after initially holding firm: She caved and let the kids stay up late.

This sense suggests a sudden or complete capitulation.

surrender

yielded

Gave way or produced

capitulatedCeased resistance, conceded
concededAdmitted defeat formally
relentedStopped resisting, softened

succumbed · gave in · buckled · backed down · acquiesced · submitted · complied · threw in the towel · broke down · folded

spelunking

exploration

Traveling through unknown regions

limestoneCarbonate sedimentary rock
stalactiteHanging cave mineral deposit
stalagmiteUpward-growing cave deposit

karst · subterranean · grotto · chamber · underground · headlamp · calcite · pitch-black · helmet · rappelling

collapsed

debris

Scattered broken fragments

rubbleBroken building fragments
crumbledBroke into particles
subsidenceGradual ground sinking

sinkhole · tunnel · mineshaft · roof · ceiling · structural · unstable · trapped · buried · rescue

caved

yielded

exploration

debris

caved

Opposites

Phrases

Categories

Family