Definition of assentnext

assent

2 of 2

noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word assent distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of assent are accede, acquiesce, agree, consent, and subscribe. While all these words mean "to concur with what has been proposed," assent implies an act involving the understanding or judgment and applies to propositions or opinions.

voters assented to the proposal

When might accede be a better fit than assent?

The meanings of accede and assent largely overlap; however, accede implies a yielding, often under pressure, of assent or consent.

officials acceded to the prisoners' demands

When is acquiesce a more appropriate choice than assent?

While in some cases nearly identical to assent, acquiesce implies tacit acceptance or forbearance of opposition.

acquiesced to his boss's wishes

When would agree be a good substitute for assent?

The synonyms agree and assent are sometimes interchangeable, but agree sometimes implies previous difference of opinion or attempts at persuasion.

finally agreed to come along

In what contexts can consent take the place of assent?

In some situations, the words consent and assent are roughly equivalent. However, 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 assent?

While the synonyms subscribe and assent are close in meaning, 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 assent
Verb
Her mother reluctantly assented, so long as Carol went with her. Jonathan Franzen, New Yorker, 1 June 2026 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
Noun
Rhaenyra continues to fumble her assent to the Iron Throne while Daemon pushes for more aggressive tactics to answer their enemy’s assaults. Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026 Even in hardboiled Hadestown, that would probably get a murmur of assent. Chris Willman, Variety, 25 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for assent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for assent
Verb
  • Democratic and Republican voters agree that the American public should decide the future of AI development, not billionaires in Silicon Valley, according to new polling shared first with Semafor.
    Ashley Gold, semafor.com, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Last month, Frasers agreed to purchase Harvey Nichols out of administration.
    Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 16 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • But many assumptions that Stratos’ investors or Utah politicians might have had about Box Elder County – about either the acquiescence of its people or the barrenness of its landscape – have been proved wrong over the past few months.
    Melanie Stetson Freeman, Christian Science Monitor, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Oil has long funded the Gulf’s expensive social contract, in which governments provide citizens with cushy jobs and high-quality services in return for political acquiescence.
    Dina Esfandiary, Foreign Affairs, 27 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • And then another concession came late Sunday, when Republicans said Trump consented to a tougher ethics proposal that several key senators had demanded.
    ABC News, ABC News, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Maro said Havas consented to a search of his cellphone, which investigators are continuing to examine.
    Bryce Buyakie, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • The president has in your own polling, 36% job approval, 31% approving of his handling of the war.
    NBC news, NBC news, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Regulators eventually granted approval, but only after conducting a formal review.
    Bernard Condon, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • As part of the agreement, €3m went to Sint-Truiden, the club Suzuki spent a year at in the 2023-24 campaign before moving to Parma.
    Aston Villa, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Arianespace and Amazon Leo announced Wednesday an agreement at the International Space Summit in Paris for six additional Ariane 64 launches to continue deploying the Amazon Leo constellation into low-Earth orbit.
    Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 11 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Thomas Edison improved the ticker in 1869, helping the technology gain widespread acceptance.
    Brian Lund, Encyclopedia Britannica, 4 Sep. 2026
  • That first flight, which will launch from Rocket Lab's Launch Complex 3 on Wallops Island, Virginia, also depends on the successful completion of the vehicle's qualification testing and acceptance program, according to the company.
    Leonard David, Space.com, 3 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Public confirmation of Newcastle’s intention to do just that helped to quell many of the persistent doubts amongst supporters as to how committed Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), their 85 per cent majority owners, are to the club.
    Chris Waugh, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • During his absence, the Senate passed through a bipartisan housing reform bill, narrowly blocked several war powers measures and squeezed through Todd Blanche’s confirmation as attorney general in a 50-49 vote.
    Keely Doll, Louisville Courier Journal, 11 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Threets became known online for spreading positivity and his affirmations.
    Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Chiappini also read aloud notes found on the phone referencing Clancy’s struggles and seeming personal affirmations.
    Liam Quinn, PEOPLE, 13 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Assent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/assent. Accessed 17 Sep. 2026.

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