assent 1 of 2

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
Putin did not agree to a full ceasefire, which Trump has proposed and which Ukraine had assented to earlier. Joshua Keating, Vox, 18 Mar. 2025 These agreements encourage assenting parties to perform due diligence, helping to identify potential gaps in the data protection chain. Chris Novak, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
Noun
So, yes, as unworkable as this plan might seem for the Palestinian group, a Hamas assent is entirely plausible. Hussein Ibish, The Atlantic, 1 Oct. 2025 Bezos would recognize all of this, and perhaps nod in vigorous assent. Paul Kingsnorth, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for assent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for assent
Verb
  • But even proponents of the efforts to tackle nutrition concerns don't agree on which foods to target.
    Alan Greenblatt, CBS News, 12 Jan. 2026
  • If nothing changes, the Hispanic arts industry in Arkansas could be threatened, both musicians agreed.
    Juan Cordoba, Arkansas Online, 12 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • 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
  • Despite that goal, the Utah Legislature’s Republican supermajority, with Cox’s acquiescence, has taken a hard turn against solar power — which has been coming online faster than any other source in Utah and accounts for two-thirds of the new projects waiting to connect to the state’s power grid.
    Anjeanette Damon, ProPublica, 12 Dec. 2025
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.
    Christopher Harris, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
  • Bastian had to consent to the conditioning stint.
    SportsDay Staff, Dallas Morning News, 5 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The satellite campus was announced in November 2021, and the university’s board of regents gave approval to move forward with construction of two buildings in May 2022.
    Samuel O'Neal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Jan. 2026
  • Political interference in mergers and acquisitions approvals and daily operations repels foreign investment and damages confidence in market operations.
    Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 13 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Last week Meta announced agreements with three nuclear power companies for a data center in Ohio.
    Jordan Novet, CNBC, 13 Jan. 2026
  • That’s up from the current $249,000 and could grow to nearly $2 million over the life of the agreement, a person familiar with the negotiations told the AP earlier this month.
    Doug Feinberg, Twin Cities, 13 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Apparently, his second-hand acceptance of the medal, from Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, wasn’t enough to satiate his bruised ego.
    The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 20 Jan. 2026
  • It’s even been adopted as an anthem of gay pride, thanks to its themes of acceptance and love.
    Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 19 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • This data is now under review; all 4,000+ agents will be published upon confirmation.
    J.D. Miles, CBS News, 23 Jan. 2026
  • Abid Jamal Sheikh, a senior rescue official, also said the body parts could belong to more than a dozen people, but stressed that official confirmation was pending.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 22 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Famed civil rights attorney Ben Crump said that sense of affirmation is essential.
    Tania Francois, CBS News, 19 Jan. 2026
  • But compassion is not the same as affirmation.
    Nicole Kraft, Forbes.com, 18 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Assent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/assent. Accessed 27 Jan. 2026.

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