1
as in to relinquish
to give (something) over to the control or possession of another usually under duress
she reluctantly ceded her position as leader
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to assign
to give over the legal possession or ownership of
Spain ceded Puerto Rico to the United States as part of the settlement of the Spanish-American War
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3
as in to abdicate
to give up (as a position of authority) formally
the President officially cedes his position on the January 20th immediately following the presidential election
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cede
Instigated by the dictatorship invading territories long ago ceded to the English, the war was the new government’s futile attempt to restore a nationalist fantasy of Argentina’s borders (and distract from the country’s collapsing economy).
—
Daniel R. Quiles, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2026
Stakes are too high for Americans to cede their power of the vote.
—Otis Moss Iii, Chicago Tribune, 1 Mar. 2026
For almost a year, the Saudis and other key members have been engaged in an apparent push to reclaim market share ceded in recent years to rivals such as US shale drillers.
—Salma El Wardany, Fortune, 28 Feb. 2026
African democracies are faltering, some ceding ground to Russia and China.
—Alexanderia Baker-Haidara, semafor.com, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cede
Daniel R. Quiles, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2026
Stakes are too high for Americans to cede their power of the vote.
—Otis Moss Iii, Chicago Tribune, 1 Mar. 2026
For almost a year, the Saudis and other key members have been engaged in an apparent push to reclaim market share ceded in recent years to rivals such as US shale drillers.
—Salma El Wardany, Fortune, 28 Feb. 2026
African democracies are faltering, some ceding ground to Russia and China.
—Alexanderia Baker-Haidara, semafor.com, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cede
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cede
Verb
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Our hope is that the Islamic Republic will relinquish power and transfer it to the people.—
Leila Fadel,
NPR,
5 Mar. 2026
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China, historically the largest driver of the country’s overall trade deficit in goods, has relinquished its status in that regard.—
Kate Nishimura,
Sourcing Journal,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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One man was assigned to care for the dogs.—
Delbert L. Chears,
Outdoor Life,
5 Mar. 2026
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Those changes include amending the contract for unionized laborers to have them all under the public works umbrella, with some assigned to the street department and some to the parks department.—
Doug Ross,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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RadarOnline is reporting that the King is set to abdicate in favor of his son, Prince William.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
9 Mar. 2026
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Responsibility cannot be lost; it can only be abdicated.—
Rich Harwood,
Twin Cities,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The policy, implemented last fall, prompted most Pentagon reporters to surrender their credentials rather than agree to restrictions.—
Michael Kunzelman,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
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Second- and third-round picks usually only return depth players at the deadline, but Columbus has acquired a legitimate difference-maker with term beyond this season without surrendering a first-round pick or any prospects.—
Shayna Goldman,
New York Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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When in a group, space out to prevent the current from transferring between individuals.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Mar. 2026
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The camp is intended for short-term stays before detainees are transferred or deported.—
Morgan Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Dotseth has been interim chief since 2024, when Chief Ernest Morales III was put on leave and then resigned from the department.—
Mara H. Gottfried,
Twin Cities,
9 Mar. 2026
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The committee was founded by Tim Ozinga, R-Mokena, who was state representative in the 37th House District before abruptly resigning in April 2024.—
Olivia Stevens,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Three of these factors played a key role in rendering the AXIS mission ineligible for selection.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
11 Mar. 2026
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At the conclusion of closing arguments, the court will issue a decision or the jury will render a verdict.—
Florence Taylor Barner,
Sun Sentinel,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Whether male, female, or divine, these bodies convey force, belief, and energy.—
Li Qi,
Artforum,
6 Mar. 2026
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That would not only make marketing messages easier to convey but allow companies investing so much in this content to maximize their ROI.—
Dick Lippin,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cede.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cede. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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