Definition of acquiescenext

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 This isn’t about Starmer acquiescing on defence, said John Rentoul in The Independent. Will Barker, TheWeek, 2 July 2026 The compromise made acquiescing to the Southern states allowed the slave trade to continue for another two decades. Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 24 June 2026 Trump vowed to remove that nuclear material from the country; Tehran hasn’t acquiesced to that demand but has agreed to talk. Hamidreza Azizi, Time, 19 June 2026 The 6-foot-3 Šmits would acquiesce. Peter Baugh, New York Times, 17 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for acquiesce
Recent Examples of Synonyms for acquiesce
Verb
  • The city has estimated if all three governments agree to extend the TADs, and therefore give up their portions of that tax revenue growth, at least $5 billion could be raised for infrastructure investment.
    Shaddi Abusaid, AJC.com, 16 July 2026
  • The Odyssey is a story of (literal) epic proportions, and everybody seems to agree that Christopher Nolan brings the awe.
    Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 15 July 2026
Verb
  • False endorsement and misappropriation, FanDuel could insist, are inapplicable to a personalized video setting where the video’s talent voluntarily assents in exchange for compensation.
    Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 14 July 2026
  • Their mothers assented because anything the cousins did together could be considered family time.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 29 June 2026
Verb
  • And Rock Hill already voted once not to consent to anything less than the original, full amount.
    John Marks, Charlotte Observer, 10 July 2026
  • Gámez has consented to extradition, according to court documents, but the process could still take weeks.
    Sebastian Rotella, ProPublica, 10 July 2026
Verb
  • When Queen Elizabeth acceded to the throne in 1952 upon the death of her father, King George VI, Winston Churchill was the British prime minister.
    Stephanie Petit, PEOPLE, 22 June 2026
  • But while the union asked for voluntary recognition, the company did not accede to that request.
    Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 11 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Acquiesce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acquiesce. Accessed 19 Jul. 2026.

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