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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
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
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 See All Example Sentences for assent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for assent
Verb
  • Buyers agree that the shoes are comfortable for all-day wear.
    Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 26 Oct. 2025
  • More recently, high-profile firms including Amazon, Apple, Coinbase, Comcast, Google, Lockheed Martin and Meta Platforms have agreed to help finance the ballroom Trump plans for the White House after ordering the building’s East Wing to be demolished.
    Bill Barrow, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • 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
  • 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
Verb
  • The fine was related to how users consented to data collection.
    Katrina Bishop, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2025
  • Two women were in the front, and the driver consented to a search of the vehicle.
    Violet Ikonomova, Freep.com, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The crowd of more than 100 people, many clutching drinks from the open bar, roared in approval.
    Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 2 Nov. 2025
  • Trump issue approval Majorities of Americans also disapprove of how Trump is handling every issue measured in the poll.
    Emily Guskin, ABC News, 2 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Determined to stop the anti-imperial policies of Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser, British and French representatives met with Israeli officials in October 1956 to forge a secret agreement for a coordinated offensive against Egypt.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025
  • The strikes ended when the WGA reached an agreement with the AMPTP in September 2023, followed by SAG-AFTRA that November.
    Glenn Garner, Deadline, 2 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • This growing recognition and acceptance is associated with an increase in self-diagnosis of autism.
    Joshua Anbar, CNN Money, 3 Nov. 2025
  • Past 1497 alumni have gone on to staff writers’ rooms, secure development deals, gain festival access and acceptance and entry to labs including Sundance, and have their projects optioned by leading studios.
    Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 3 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Casually tucked at the end of an article about Demon Hunters merch was confirmation that Netflix had finalized a deal for a second movie with directors Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, as well as Sony (which originally developed KPop Demon Hunters).
    Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 5 Nov. 2025
  • Brady’s writing career is also starting to take flight, with his entry into The Brit List being confirmation of his burgeoning credentials.
    Jake Kanter, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • And importantly, Timor-Leste’s ASEAN membership is an affirmation of its sovereignty, putting it in equal standing with its former occupier, Indonesia, within the regional bloc.
    Angelica Ang, Fortune, 30 Oct. 2025
  • To be human is to be needy, and to seek affirmation and solace.
    Lucinda Rosenfeld, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Assent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/assent. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.

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