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
Many nations joined the chorus, chanting day after day, indicating their assent. Literary Hub, 26 May 2026 To initiate any medical care, consent from the parent and assent from the patient is required. Susan Radzilowski, The Conversation, 20 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for assent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for assent
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
Noun
  • Less money coming into government coffers also means fewer goodies for the population of Moscow, whose acquiescence Putin desperately needs.
    Phillips Payson O’Brien, The Atlantic, 30 June 2026
  • But the balance of risks has changed Europe’s era of acquiescence is over.
    semafor.com, semafor.com, 22 June 2026
Verb
  • The law prevents those under the age of 16 from creating or keeping accounts on covered platforms by limiting the age at which minors can sign the contract required to open an account and consent to share their data via a terms of service.
    Ravi Iyer, Time, 18 July 2026
  • Participants agreed to annual cognitive and physical assessments, gave researchers access to convent archives and medical records and consented to brain donation at death.
    Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 16 July 2026
Noun
  • Mars drives your 10th House of Career forward, while Saturn in your 8th House of Shared Resources clarifies obligations, approvals, and support.
    Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 July 2026
  • With the full City Council giving approval, Chicagoland is likely stuck with Barclay and Eaddy until at least September 2029.
    Nik Hunder, Chicago Tribune, 19 July 2026
Noun
  • The cities can either fight the lawsuits in court or reach agreements with the state that set court-enforceable deadlines for updating their housing elements.
    Naomi Taxay, Sacbee.com, 17 July 2026
  • Jorge León, senior vice president at Rystad Energy, wrote in a note on Friday that a limited agreement between Washington and Tehran remained the firm's base case scenario, though confidence in that outcome had weakened.
    Sam Meredith,Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 17 July 2026
Noun
  • The central message is the acceptance that suffering is a necessary stage in the process of love, loss and personal growth — of life itself.
    Colin Millar, New York Times, 19 July 2026
  • The former Black-ish and Grown-ish star — who played a college student on the latter series — initially deferred her acceptance to the Ivy League school for a year to work on a few projects, ultimately enrolling in 2017.
    Andrea Wurzburger, PEOPLE, 18 July 2026
Noun
  • Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche appears at his confirmation hearing in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee, on Capitol Hill in Washington, July 15, 2026.
    Dan Mangan, CNBC, 17 July 2026
  • Fix, who has experienced the upsell scam herself, recommends bringing a printout (yes, a paper printout) of your confirmation.
    Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 17 July 2026
Noun
  • Ferrari believes therapy can sometimes lean too heavily on affirmation and explanation without helping clients move toward meaningful change.
    Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 15 July 2026
  • When the period of mourning culminates 40 days later, Arbaeen serves as an affirmation of devotion to Ḥusayn and Muhammad’s family.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Assent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/assent. Accessed 23 Jul. 2026.

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