as in obedience
a readiness or willingness to yield to the wishes of others
good manners demanded our cheerful acquiescence to our host's plans for dinner
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Recent Examples of acquiescence
Passage of this resolution was tantamount to acquiescence by Congress, granting the president the authority to respond militarily by sending thousands of troops to fight in Vietnam.
—
Richard Cherwitz, Sun Sentinel, 6 Jan. 2026
The Enlightenment faith in reason, science, and free speech, already weakened by the First World War, had been devastated by an unprecedented bureaucracy of mass death, sustained by technology, systematic deceit, widespread gullibility, and eager acquiescence.
—Victor J. Blue, Harpers Magazine, 23 Nov. 2025
Ukraine ultimately won the United States’ limited acquiescence.
—Rebecca Lissner, Foreign Affairs, 14 Nov. 2025
Would-be autocrats create environments of fear and powerlessness, using intimidation, overwhelming force or political and legal attacks, and other coercive tactics to force acquiescence and chill democratic pushback.
—Shelley Inglis, The Conversation, 19 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for acquiescence
Richard Cherwitz, Sun Sentinel, 6 Jan. 2026
The Enlightenment faith in reason, science, and free speech, already weakened by the First World War, had been devastated by an unprecedented bureaucracy of mass death, sustained by technology, systematic deceit, widespread gullibility, and eager acquiescence.
—Victor J. Blue, Harpers Magazine, 23 Nov. 2025
Ukraine ultimately won the United States’ limited acquiescence.
—Rebecca Lissner, Foreign Affairs, 14 Nov. 2025
Would-be autocrats create environments of fear and powerlessness, using intimidation, overwhelming force or political and legal attacks, and other coercive tactics to force acquiescence and chill democratic pushback.
—Shelley Inglis, The Conversation, 19 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for acquiescence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for acquiescence
Noun
-
Having spent much of his adult life in the Order of St Augustine, whose friars and sisters take vows of poverty, chastity and obedience with a focus on unity and community, his priorities are unity and building bridges.—
Christopher Lamb,
CNN Money,
17 Apr. 2026
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To become registered, dogs must be at least 1 year old, be in good health, know basic obedience skills and be comfortable interacting with people.—
Mikayla Bunnell,
Hartford Courant,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
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To be reasonable, in Rawls’s sense, is to accept that one’s deepest convictions may fail to command assent from others who are no less sincere or thoughtful, and then to propose terms of political coöperation that others can appreciate.—
Nikhil Krishnan,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
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The bill will become law once King Charles III grants royal assent — a formality — and the hereditary peers will leave at the end of the current session of Parliament this spring, completing a political process begun a quarter century ago.—
Jill Lawless,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The cinematography, score and editing all stay flat-footed in deference to its lead.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
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Fed officials are not entitled to the same special deference in their stewardship of public monies…or in bank regulatory and supervisory policy…or in areas affecting international finance, among other matters.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But for Coles, his indoctrination to law enforcement has been a different level of submissiveness.—
Dan Pompei,
New York Times,
2 Dec. 2025
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In Killers of the Flower Moon, his Ernest Burkhart starts off as a mopey, weak-minded World War One veteran, eager to do anything for his godfather uncle (Robert De Niro), but there’s still a certain likability to his dim-bulb submissiveness.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Carlson-Wee introduces himself to Wood with the sweet docility of a young boy meeting his hero.—
Clara Molot,
Vanity Fair,
17 Mar. 2026
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The same goes for docility, often characterized as a near neighbor of meekness.—
Timothy J. Pawl,
The Conversation,
23 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Acquiescence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acquiescence. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
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