acquiescence

noun

ac·​qui·​es·​cence ˌa-kwē-ˈe-sᵊn(t)s 

1

: passive acceptance or submission : the act of acquiescing or the state of being acquiescent

I was surprised by his acquiescence to their demands.

2

: an instance of acquiescing

Synonyms

• obedience
• assent
• deference
• submissiveness
• docility

Examples of acquiescence in a Sentence

good manners demanded our cheerful acquiescence to our host's plans for dinner

Recent Examples on the Web

The major sticking point in negotiations that kept the strike going for nearly a year was protections surrounding generative A.I., which the gaming companies made significant acquiescences to come their best, last and final offer. —Jennifer Maas, Variety, 11 June 2025

His goal seems to be to scare the public into acquiescence. —Lisa Jarvis, Mercury News, 6 June 2025

German leadership has begun to speak more critically of the U.S. under Trump, yet Shapiro said European autonomy remains an uphill challenge following decades of acquiescence. —Alex J. Rouhandeh, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 May 2025

Those days of acquiescence were over: My father demanded instead that Americans honor their treaties and recognize the political sovereignty of tribal governments. —Philip J. Deloria, The Atlantic, 3 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, from acquiescer "to acquiesce" + -ence -ence

First Known Use

1615, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for acquiescence

• adolescence
• coalescence
• convalescence
• effervescence
• efflorescence
• evanescence
• incandescence
• inflorescence
• iridescence
• luminescence
• obsolescence
• opalescence