acquiesce

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 But a loving parent, Sarkis adds, doesn't acquiesce to all of their child's whims. Charles Trepany, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026 Powell in recent months has been embroiled in a Department of Justice criminal probe after refusing to acquiesce to Trump's demands. Kevin Breuninger,jeff Cox,alex Harring,matt Peterson, CNBC, 21 Apr. 2026 Hilton or Bianco would face the opposite in California, where many legislators would refuse to acquiesce to a Republican governor, especially one almost certain to face a swift recall, political experts said. Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026 The Maryland Civil Rights Commission could mirror Colorado’s, bringing baseless cases against religious schools that refuse to acquiesce to mainstream culture, especially beliefs on sexuality and gender. Stephen Mitchell, Baltimore Sun, 2 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for acquiesce
Recent Examples of Synonyms for acquiesce
Verb
  • But Rozelle agreed, and ESPN set out to make an event of it.
    Dan Greene, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
  • The four-time NFL MVP agreed to a one-year contract worth $22 million guaranteed with the Steelers on Saturday, a source confirmed.
    Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 17 May 2026
Verb
  • Switzerland voted to enshrine the availability of cash in its constitution, assenting to a push designed to guard against the demise of physical money.
    Bastian Benrath-Wright, Bloomberg, 8 Mar. 2026
  • Moderna resisted, but agreed to provide test subjects with enhanced disclosures on its informed consent form, to which the FDA assented.
    Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.
    Adam Zagoria, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026
  • User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the GettyImages License Agreement.
    Christopher Harris, CBS News, 13 May 2026
Verb
  • Even as many neighbors complained about that shortfall, others had also asked the county to remove planned palm trees from a new central promenade on the site, which its designers acceded to.
    Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 8 May 2026
  • King Charles' wife then became known as Queen Camilla, fulfilling the late Queen Elizabeth's wish that her daughter-in-law would step into the role when her son acceded.
    Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 6 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Acquiesce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acquiesce. Accessed 20 May. 2026.

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