dissent

verb dis·sent \ di-ˈsent \

Updated on: 11 Apr 2018

Definition of dissent

intransitive verb

1 : to withhold assent or approval

2 : to differ in opinion

Three of the justices dissented from the majority opinion.

See dissent defined for English-language learners

See dissent defined for kids

Examples of dissent in a Sentence

The Supreme Court, with two justices dissenting, ruled that the law was constitutional.
anyone who dissented was encouraged to speak out while they had the chance

Recent Examples of dissent from the Web

Councilwoman Olga Diaz was the lone dissenting vote.

— michael smolens, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Red California's revenge on sanctuary laws," 6 Apr. 2018
The bill passed the Legislature with only one dissenting vote out of the 90-member body.

— mary jo pitzl, The Republic | azcentral.com, "Ducey signs bill to cut off parents' rights to drug-exposed babies after one year," 5 Apr. 2018
The arbitration record shows that the NFL, at the very least, turned a blind eye to Roberts’ dissenting opinion.

— clarence e. hill jr., star-telegram, "Kia Roberts, who suggested no discipline in Elliott suspension case, leaves NFL | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 29 Mar. 2018
For people like Suszek who dare to stand up for their convictions and raise their voices against hatred, the Holocaust law looks set to silence dissenting opinions.

— barbora Černušáková, Time, "Poland's Holocaust Law Is a Dangerous Threat to Free Speech," 9 Mar. 2018
The 7-1 vote, with board members Carol Fowler dissenting and Rex Gammon absent, enables Hagey to build commercial and residential structures on the two properties located by Elliott Pond.

— julie gallant, Ramona Sentinel, "Board approves mixed use for 2 parcels, sign waivers and more," 28 Feb. 2018
Both groups also afforded similar importance to accepting dissenting opinions and supporting those who've been marginalized by society.

— christoph hasselbach, USA TODAY, "Study: Arab youth optimistic despite region's turmoil," 8 Jan. 2018
Two officials, Michael Saunders and Ian McCafferty, dissented, saying that a modest tightening in policy immediately would help officials keep the path of future interest-rate increases slow and steady.

— wiktor szary, WSJ, "Bank of England Holds Steady as May Aims for Brexit Transition Deal," 22 Mar. 2018
Councilman Mike Perrone, who is also a Republican candidate for county executive, cast the dissenting vote.

— david anderson, The Aegis, "Harford County to retain national firm in opioid lawsuit," 21 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'dissent.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of dissent

Middle English, from Latin dissentire, from dis- + sentire to feel — more at sense

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

dissent Synonyms

Phrases

take issue;

dissent

noun

Definition of dissent

: difference of opinion

heard voices of dissent at the meeting

: such as

a : religious nonconformity

permitted no dissent from church teachings

b law : a justice's nonconcurrence with a decision of the majority

cited an earlier case in her dissent

— called also dissenting opinion

c : political opposition to a government or its policies

attempts to suppress domestic dissent

See dissent defined for English-language learners

Examples of dissent in a Sentence

Church leaders permitted no dissent from church teachings.
He did everything in his power to suppress political dissent.
These dissents come from prominent scientists and should not be ignored.
She argued in her dissent that Congress had exceeded its authority.

Recent Examples of dissent from the Web

While the case was thrown out without first being heard fully by the court, indicating the majority of justices agreed with the decision, Justice Sonia Sotomayor and Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg registered their dissent.

— britni danielle, Essence.com, "The Supreme Court Made It Harder For Victims of Police Brutality To Sue," 4 Apr. 2018
In her dissent published alongside the court's majority opinion issued Thursday, Graeff seemed to adopt the argument of the state that Gutierrez had good reason not to call McClain as a witness.

— tribune news service, OregonLive.com, "Serial's Adnan Syed should get a new trial, appeals court rules," 30 Mar. 2018
In a stinging dissent, which Winkler clearly admires, Justice John Paul Stevens noted that the court had often considered the identity of the speaker in free speech cases.

— glenn c. altschuler, San Francisco Chronicle, "‘We the Corporations,’ by Adam Winkler," 28 Mar. 2018
For example, over the last 18 months the president has said and done a number of things that warranted dissent from Republicans — not just from party leaders, but from rank-and-file legislators, pundits and other commentators.

— Anchorage Daily News, "Republicans may come to regret their silence on Trump," 22 Mar. 2018
While it has been widely hailed as groundbreaking, there has been dissent from a number of prominent critics, who have taken issue with the film’s generic storytelling and its emphasis on a white, privileged, conventionally masculine lead character.

— anna silman, The Cut, "10 Teenagers on Love, Simon and What It’s Actually Like to Come Out in 2018," 22 Mar. 2018
Meanwhile, the dissent from Judge Nguyen argued that this case should have been decided on summary judgment and that Thicke and Williams were still entitled to judgment as a matter of law.

— colin stutz, Billboard, "The 'Blurred Lines' Appeal Failed -- Now What?," 22 Mar. 2018
Short of finding consensus on a new version of the bill, Kruse's other option was to withdraw his dissent and settle for the version of the bill passed by the House.

— arika herron, Indianapolis Star, "In aftermath of Florida shooting, Indiana lawmakers fail to pass school safety legislation," 14 Mar. 2018
Grandmother’s indecent proposal constituted a critical and intimate dissent from the wholesale American demonization of Black women’s sexuality.

— aaron gilbreath, Longreads, "Grown-Woman Theology," 2 Mar. 2018

Origin and Etymology of dissent

see ¹dissent

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1585

See Words from the same year

dissent Synonyms

Synonyms

conflict, disaccord, discord, discordance, discordancy, disharmony, dissension (also dissention), dissidence, dissonance, disunion, disunity, division, friction, infighting, inharmony, schism, strife, variance, war, warfare;

Antonyms

accord, agreement, concord, concordance, harmony, peace;

Near Antonyms

concurrence, cooperation;

altercation, argument, bicker, brawl, debate, disagreement, dispute, divide, fissure;

falling-out, fight, hassle, jar, miff, mix-up, quarrel, row, run-in, scrap, spat, squabble, tiff, wrangle;

incompatibility, incongruence, incongruity, incongruousness, inconsistence, inconsistency, inconsonance, inharmoniousness;

animosity, antagonism, antipathy, cold war, enmity, hostility, ill will, rancor;

DISSENT Defined for English Language Learners

dissent

verb

Definition of dissent for English Language Learners

: to publicly disagree with an official opinion, decision, or set of beliefs

dissent

noun

Definition of dissent for English Language Learners

: public disagreement with an official opinion, decision, or set of beliefs
law : a statement by a judge giving reasons why the judge does not agree with the decision made by the other judges in a court case

DISSENT Defined for Kids

dissent

verb dis·sent \ di-ˈsent \

Definition of dissent for Students

dissented; dissenting

: disagree 1

Mom suggested eating out, but Dad dissented.

—

dissenter

noun

dissent

noun

Definition of dissent for Students

: difference of opinion

The class voted without dissent for a field trip.

Law Dictionary

dissent

intransitive verb dis·sent \ di-ˈsent \

legal Definition of dissent

1 : to withhold assent or approval

unfair squeezeout transactions—the kind to which public shareholders seem most likely to dissent
—R. C. Clark

— see also appraisal

Note: A shareholder who dissents from a proposed transaction may demand that the corporation buy his or her shares after an appraisal.

2 : to differ in opinion; especially : to disagree with a majority opinion

three of the justices dissented

— compare concur

—

dissenter

noun

dissent

noun

legal Definition of dissent

1 : difference of opinion; especially : a judge's disagreement with the decision of the majority

2 : dissenting opinion at opinion

3 : the judge or group of judges that dissent — compare majority

Learn More about dissent

See words that rhyme with dissent Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for dissent Spanish Central: Translation of dissent Nglish: Translation of dissent for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of dissent for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up dissent? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

dissent

Definition of dissent

Examples of dissent in a Sentence

Recent Examples of dissent from the Web

Origin and Etymology of dissent

dissent Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

Phrases

dissent

Definition of dissent

Examples of dissent in a Sentence

Recent Examples of dissent from the Web

Origin and Etymology of dissent

dissent Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

DISSENT Defined for English Language Learners

dissent

Definition of dissent for English Language Learners

dissent

Definition of dissent for English Language Learners

DISSENT Defined for Kids

dissent

Definition of dissent for Students

dissenter

dissent

Definition of dissent for Students

Law Dictionary

dissent

legal Definition of dissent

dissenter

dissent

legal Definition of dissent

Learn More about dissent

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

Going Greek: 7 Words from the Greek Alphabet

'Preventive' or 'Preventative'?

Odd Habits and Quirks Quiz

Trending: Trump: Den of Thieves and 'Lowlifes'

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes