acquiesce

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

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 acquiesce His request to keep Morales’ bond at $5 million was denied when Murphy acquiesced a request made by Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Howard S. Stein to raise bail by $2.5 million now that Morales no longer has the presumption of innocence. Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 22 Apr. 2025 Rather than acquiesce—as Columbia University had weeks earlier—Harvard publicly upheld its commitments to inclusion, free inquiry, and academic autonomy. Nell Derick Debevoise, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025 That prompted landowners downstream to acquiesce to dredging and further channelization of the river. Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2025 To that, there is perspective that looks less about Reynolds accumulating power for himself and his star-in-her-own-right wife and Baldoni and his gang acquiescing. Dominic Patten, Deadline, 3 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for acquiesce
Recent Examples of Synonyms for acquiesce
Verb
  • Russia and Ukraine agreed to a prisoner swap May 16 in Istanbul during their first in person talks in 3 years.
    Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 18 May 2025
  • This told us whether the pan could handle what our editors agreed was a typical amount of meat for a casual weeknight dinner.
    Wilder Davies, Bon Appetit Magazine, 17 May 2025
Verb
  • The lead lawyer for the plaintiffs, Seth P. Waxman, a solicitor general for the Clinton administration, initially refused, but eventually assented after further criticism from Judge Reyes.
    Chris Cameron, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2025
  • 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
Verb
  • According to the agent, Jaime-Flores consented to a search of her mobile phone.
    Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2025
  • Even if the author’s family consented, Christie has not, and cannot, agree to the course.
    Amelia Nierenberg, New York Times, 8 May 2025
Verb
  • Jammu and Kashmir, a region now administered by India and known as J&K, chose to accede to India after tribal militias backed by Pakistan moved in, leading to the first Kashmir war between the neighbors.
    Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 May 2025
  • This sunscreen is also free of oxybenzone and octinoxate and accedes with the Hawaii Reef Compliant Act 103.
    Rebecca Shinners, Travel + Leisure, 5 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Acquiesce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acquiesce. Accessed 24 May. 2025.

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