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
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
  • In interviews with several analysts, bulls and bears agreed that CoreWeave’s fundamentals, as reflected in its filings, don’t currently add up.
    Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 8 Nov. 2025
  • This comes amid wider Russian attack on cities closer to Ukraine's front-line regions, signaling that Moscow has no intention of easing up its targeting of infrastructure or agreeing to any ceasefire.
    Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Any group decision comes with a degree of acquiescence and a leap of faith.
    David Merritt Johns, The Atlantic, 2 Nov. 2025
  • 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
Verb
  • The mention of plea negotiations came when Judge Ramon Reyes, who is overseeing the poker case, asked Jones about consenting to stopping the 70-day speedy trial clock — a common occurrence in complex prosecutions.
    John Annese, Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Though machines revived her, she was declared brain dead, and five days later, her parents consented to remove her from life support.
    Rebecca Aizin, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Warner possesses valuable European sports rights that would require government approvals to sell.
    Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 10 Nov. 2025
  • Several Japanese companies, including Toyota, are investing roughly $7 billion (1 trillion yen) in local battery production, supported by government certifications such as METI approval for domestic manufacturing of solid-state batteries.
    Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 9 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • The agreement includes bipartisan bills worked out by the Senate Appropriations Committee to fund parts of government — food aid, veterans programs and the legislative branch, among other things.
    Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 10 Nov. 2025
  • There’s near-universal agreement from all kinds of housing observers that the affordability crisis is one of (non)-supply and demand.
    Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 9 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • This sense of acceptance is debilitating in its own way.
    Saumya Roy, The Dial, 6 Jan. 2026
  • Elevator operators are now a sign of prestige, but in the early days of this technology, their presence was essential to building trust and acceptance to evolve the social norm.
    Jason Corso, Fortune, 6 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Multiple people close to the situation had stated or speculated that an official request had been sent, and the president himself had said that Combs had asked for clemency, but Thursday’s report was the first official confirmation of the letter’s existence.
    Jem Aswad, Variety, 8 Jan. 2026
  • There was no immediate confirmation from Washington.
    Wafaa Shurafa, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Since opening in 2023, the gallery has experienced an outpouring of support from local art lovers, hundreds of whom pack out the openings and talks, an affirmation of the gallery’s necessary role in highlighting underrepresented artists in the city’s art scene.
    Essence, Essence, 5 Jan. 2026
  • Murals layered with short affirmations guide employees toward accountability and positivity without interruption.
    Matthew Kayser, Miami Herald, 30 Dec. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Assent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/assent. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on assent

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!