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assent

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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
If the Senate gives its assent the bill will go before Texas Governor Greg Abbott who can sign it into law. James Bickerton, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025 As Knox talks, a crowd gathers and nods in assent, offering their own stories of decades of trauma and neglect. Andrew R. Chow, Time, 13 Aug. 2025
Noun
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 See All Example Sentences for assent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for assent
Verb
  • As part of that settlement, McCrary agreed to provide $1,366 a month in child support for the pair’s daughter.
    Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 11 Oct. 2025
  • Democratic elders have sought to cast blame on Republicans for the shutdown, arguing it could be averted if the GOP agreed to attach provisions to the CR enacting healthcare reforms.
    Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 11 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Yet, the lesson of the Voting Rights Act is that the response to these setbacks isn’t despair or acquiescence.
    Time, Time, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of this revenge is the acquiescence of his support base and the GOP representatives to the raw hatred unleashed by our Emir of Evil.
    DP Opinion, Denver Post, 2 Sep. 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.
    Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
  • But people can run into problems if someone living in Michigan, for instance, calls someone in Florida — where all parties must generally consent to being recorded — and records the conversation.
    Nushrat Rahman, Freep.com, 6 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Paramount needed government approval from the Federal Communications Commission in order to go ahead with its merger with Skydance.
    Scarlett Harris, Time, 13 Oct. 2025
  • While the buyer group awaits approval from a bankruptcy court, here's a trip down memory lane — featuring five facts about Hooters' history that may come as a surprise to some.
    Peter Burke, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • In his plea agreement, Jones admitted using his company to submit more than $2 million in false bills to the Foundation for audiovisual services.
    Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 12 Oct. 2025
  • This Is My Story While Israel and Hamas have accepted the two-phase agreement, many of the more difficult issues have been left unresolved.
    Richard Hall, Time, 12 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • But the film is most moving in its quieter moments, when the longest and most painful goodbye mellows into something like acceptance, tinged with gratitude for the moments that remain to be lived.
    Jessica Kiang, Variety, 13 Oct. 2025
  • At the same time, questions about privacy and public acceptance will influence the extent to which this technology is adopted.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • One of the victims may have been pregnant, pending confirmation from an autopsy, officials said.
    Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2025
  • The confirmation comes when RSI climbs back above 30.
    Nishant Pant, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The book was an affirmation of love and the power of relationships.
    Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Its constant affirmation of the user also bordered on dangerous, becoming sycophantic and encouraging delusions, as the company discussed in an April blog post.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 14 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Assent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/assent. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.

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