Synonyms of acquiesce

acquiesce

verb

ˌa-kwē-ˈes 

as in to agree

to give or express one's approval (as to a proposal)

apparently the contractor expected me to acquiesce to my own fleecing

Synonyms & Similar Words

• agree
• assent
• consent
• accede
• submit
• subscribe
• succumb
• adopt
• come round
• tolerate
• abide
• embrace
• endure
• suffer
• stand
• espouse
• bear (with)
• swallow
• bow
• yield
• take
• relent
• stomach
• knuckle under

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dissent
• refuse
• reject
• deny
• scorn
• spurn
• rebuff
• gainsay

Synonym Chooser

How is the word acquiesce distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of acquiesce are accede, agree, assent, consent, and subscribe. While all these words mean "to concur with what has been proposed," acquiesce implies tacit acceptance or forbearance of opposition.

acquiesced to his boss's wishes

When is it sensible to use accede instead of acquiesce?

The words accede and acquiesce can be used in similar contexts, but accede implies a yielding, often under pressure, of assent or consent.

officials acceded to the prisoners' demands

When would agree be a good substitute for acquiesce?

Although the words agree and acquiesce have much in common, agree sometimes implies previous difference of opinion or attempts at persuasion.

finally agreed to come along

When could assent be used to replace acquiesce?

The meanings of assent and acquiesce largely overlap; however, assent implies an act involving the understanding or judgment and applies to propositions or opinions.

voters assented to the proposal

When is consent a more appropriate choice than acquiesce?

While the synonyms consent and acquiesce are close in meaning, consent involves the will or feelings and indicates compliance with what is requested or desired.

consented to their daughter's going

When can subscribe be used instead of acquiesce?

While in some cases nearly identical to acquiesce, subscribe implies not only consent or assent but hearty approval and active support.

subscribes wholeheartedly to the idea

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of acquiesce

No, better to acquiesce and play the hand she’d been dealt. —Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026

Footage shows the group acquiescing to the police instructions when an officer in plain clothes – possibly indicating a special police unit – grabbed Salman’s hand, twisting it and causing a fracture in the wrist. —Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 21 Mar. 2026

This is acquiescing to Trump dressed up as mercy. —Austen Erblat, CBS News, 4 Mar. 2026

Dark humor expresses an inner refusal to acquiesce in one’s own oppression. —David Frum, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2026