subscribe

Definition of subscribenext
1
as in to agree
to give or express one's approval (as to a proposal) promised that as president he would never subscribe to the use of torture as an interrogation method, regardless of the circumstances

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in to sign
to write one's name on (as a document) they dutifully subscribed several dozen forms at the mortgage closing

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word subscribe distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of subscribe are accede, acquiesce, agree, assent, and consent. While all these words mean "to concur with what has been proposed," subscribe implies not only consent or assent but hearty approval and active support.

subscribes wholeheartedly to the idea

When might accede be a better fit than subscribe?

In some situations, the words accede and subscribe are roughly equivalent. However, accede implies a yielding, often under pressure, of assent or consent.

officials acceded to the prisoners' demands

In what contexts can acquiesce take the place of subscribe?

Although the words acquiesce and subscribe have much in common, acquiesce implies tacit acceptance or forbearance of opposition.

acquiesced to his boss's wishes

Where would agree be a reasonable alternative to subscribe?

The meanings of agree and subscribe largely overlap; however, agree sometimes implies previous difference of opinion or attempts at persuasion.

finally agreed to come along

When is it sensible to use assent instead of subscribe?

While the synonyms assent and subscribe are close in meaning, assent implies an act involving the understanding or judgment and applies to propositions or opinions.

voters assented to the proposal

When would consent be a good substitute for subscribe?

The synonyms consent and subscribe are sometimes interchangeable, but consent involves the will or feelings and indicates compliance with what is requested or desired.

consented to their daughter's going

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of subscribe The Athletic’s newsletters got a new look to start 2026 (subscribe here to see it in your inbox). Emily Olsen, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2026 If this newsletter isn't already getting conveniently delivered to your inbox, click here to subscribe. Chris Bumbaca, USA Today, 5 Jan. 2026 Strong investor demand helped the company raise $717 million through the IPO, with its retail portion subscribed more than 2,300 times. Sangmi Cha, Fortune, 2 Jan. 2026 In pursuit of scientific rigor, these scholars subscribe, often without fully realizing it, to a conception of ideology as something measurable through the affirmation of isolated beliefs on a survey (that is, mostly in our heads). Jason Blakely, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for subscribe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subscribe
Verb
  • But even proponents of the efforts to tackle nutrition concerns don't agree on which foods to target.
    Alan Greenblatt, CBS News, 12 Jan. 2026
  • If nothing changes, the Hispanic arts industry in Arkansas could be threatened, both musicians agreed.
    Juan Cordoba, Arkansas Online, 12 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The Hurricanes also signed six freshman defensive backs this cycle in JJ Dunnigan, Camdin Portis, Jaelen Waters, Cortez Redding, Brody Jennings and Jontavius Wyman.
    Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 11 Jan. 2026
  • If a player chooses not to negotiate with the Panthers, that player will be unable to sign elsewhere, unless Carolina relinquishes his rights by not offering him a tender.
    Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 11 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • China has built Russia’s defense industrial base, helped Iran provide Russia with one-way attack uncrewed aerial vehicles, and assented as North Korea has sent troops to fight in Europe.
    Kurt M. Campbell, Foreign Affairs, 10 Apr. 2025
  • His representatives soon assented to de Moraes’s orders, including taking down the offending accounts and paying the fines.
    Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Subscribe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subscribe. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.

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