Synonyms of assent

assent 1 of 2

verb

ə-ˈsent 

as in to agree

to give or express one's approval (as to a proposal)

are we to conclude from your silence that you assent?

Synonyms & Similar Words

• agree
• consent
• acquiesce
• accede
• subscribe
• submit
• succumb
• adopt
• come round
• abide
• embrace
• stand
• tolerate
• endure
• bear (with)
• suffer
• bow
• yield
• espouse
• swallow
• take
• relent
• stomach
• knuckle under

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dissent
• refuse
• reject
• deny
• scorn
• spurn
• rebuff
• gainsay

assent

2 of 2

noun

as in acquiescence

Synonyms & Similar Words

• acquiescence
• approval
• agreement
• acceptance
• okay
• confirmation
• affirmation
• ratification
• approbation
• seal
• signature
• OK
• certification
• permit
• accreditation
• imprimatur
• stamp
• liberty
• grant
• pass
• tolerance
• concession
• patent
• toleration
• accord

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• refusal
• denial
• revocation
• rejection
• injunction
• veto
• suppression
• exclusion
• repression
• prohibition
• deterrence
• embargo
• ban
• discouragement
• proscription
• interdiction

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

Recent Examples of assent

Verb

Jordan’s king cannot assent to Mr. Trump’s plan without risking the ire of different important elements of his country’s population. —Ephrat Livni, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2025

Ramaphosa assented to the law on Jan. 23 after five years of public consultation and parliamentary debate. —Chad De Guzman, TIME, 7 Feb. 2025

Noun

To be effective, the speech acts that bind us together or break us apart require the assent of our whole society. —Melissa Ragain, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2025

Beyond the power of the purse, the nominations process is one of the few times the executive branch requires assent from the Senate for its planned initiatives. —Elizabeth Shackelford, Chicago Tribune, 4 Feb. 2025