caved in
Buckled under pressure
Caved in describes something that has collapsed inward, typically due to pressure or structural weakness.
A roof, mine shaft, or chest cavity can cave in.
The phrase extends to psychological surrender: if you caved in to demands or pressure, you gave up resistance and yielded.
The tunnel caved in after the earthquake.
She finally caved in and let the kids stay up late.
Broken building fragments
- debrisScattered broken fragments
- crumbledBroke into particles
- ruinsDecayed structural remains
- wreckageDestroyed remains of something
subsidence · sinkhole · mineshaft · tunnel · roof · ceiling · structure · foundation
Gave way or produced
- capitulatedCeased resistance, conceded
- succumbedStopped resisting, gave way
- gave upAbandoned an attempt
- relentedStopped resisting, softened
backed down · folded · crumbled · broke · acquiesced · conceded · submitted · buckled under
Defeated by sheer volume
- crushedCompressed into fragments
- overcomePrevail against difficulty
- broke downFailed mechanically or emotionally
- crackedHaving surface fractures
snapped · couldn't resist · wore down · persistent · relentless · mounting · intense · unbearable
rubble
Broken building fragments
wreckage · subsidence · sinkhole · mineshaft · tunnel · roof · ceiling · structure · foundation · support
yielded
Gave way or produced
- capitulatedCeased resistance, conceded
- succumbedStopped resisting, gave way
- gave upAbandoned an attempt
relented · backed down · folded · crumbled · broke · acquiesced · conceded · submitted · buckled under · weakened
overwhelmed
Defeated by sheer volume
- crushedCompressed into fragments
- overcomePrevail against difficulty
- broke downFailed mechanically or emotionally
cracked · snapped · couldn't resist · wore down · persistent · relentless · mounting · intense · unbearable · gave way
- damageddamaged, broken, wrecked, ruined, destroyed
- surrenderedsurrendered, capitulated, yielded, conceded, submitted
caved inheld up
Delayed or robbed
withstood · supported · reinforced · held · stayed up
caved inheld out
Maintained resistance or position
stood one's ground · resisted · dug in · persisted · pushed back
cave, excavate, caves, concave, cavern, excavation, caved, excavator, cavernous