1
as in relinquished
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 transferred
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in abdicated
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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Recent Examples of ceded
McCalla and his friend ceded the space and found another about 100 feet away.
—
Bay Area News Group, Mercury News, 10 Feb. 2026
Arrington struggled against the Seahawks’ length at receiver, so Bill Belichick replaced him with Logan Ryan, who ceded too much cushion before backpedaling into the end zone and allowing an easy Chris Matthews touchdown catch to tie the game, 14-14, with two seconds left in the first half.
—Jeff Howe, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2026
On a temperate evening in Melbourne, Aryna Sabalenka—appearing in her fourth consecutive Australian Open final, with two titles at the tournament already under her belt—ceded what would have been her fifth Grand Slam win to the 26-year-old Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan, 4–6, 6–4, 6–4.
—Vogue, 31 Jan. 2026
And the Batmobile and other Bat-transports have ceded the space to a dugout canoe that once carried Karankawa Indians as far back as the 16th century and a custom 1990s lowrider tricycle that represents three generations of Texas lowriders.
—René Guzman, San Antonio Express-News, 28 Jan. 2026
That is mass mobilization capacity built through years of narrative construction that mainstream institutions ceded by default.
—Güney Yıldız, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026
Trump at the same time threatened tariffs of up to 25% on eight NATO members if the island is not ceded.
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 21 Jan. 2026
The Chagos Islands have been under British control since 1814, when they were ceded by France.
—Jill Lawless, Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2026
Europe has already ceded plenty of ground to keep the US on-side.
—Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 9 Jan. 2026
Bay Area News Group, Mercury News, 10 Feb. 2026
Arrington struggled against the Seahawks’ length at receiver, so Bill Belichick replaced him with Logan Ryan, who ceded too much cushion before backpedaling into the end zone and allowing an easy Chris Matthews touchdown catch to tie the game, 14-14, with two seconds left in the first half.
—Jeff Howe, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2026
On a temperate evening in Melbourne, Aryna Sabalenka—appearing in her fourth consecutive Australian Open final, with two titles at the tournament already under her belt—ceded what would have been her fifth Grand Slam win to the 26-year-old Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan, 4–6, 6–4, 6–4.
—Vogue, 31 Jan. 2026
And the Batmobile and other Bat-transports have ceded the space to a dugout canoe that once carried Karankawa Indians as far back as the 16th century and a custom 1990s lowrider tricycle that represents three generations of Texas lowriders.
—René Guzman, San Antonio Express-News, 28 Jan. 2026
That is mass mobilization capacity built through years of narrative construction that mainstream institutions ceded by default.
—Güney Yıldız, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026
Trump at the same time threatened tariffs of up to 25% on eight NATO members if the island is not ceded.
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 21 Jan. 2026
The Chagos Islands have been under British control since 1814, when they were ceded by France.
—Jill Lawless, Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2026
Europe has already ceded plenty of ground to keep the US on-side.
—Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 9 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ceded
Verb
-
For our judges, the Vanquish was a frontrunner from the first session and never relinquished its lead.—
Viju Mathew,
Robb Report,
10 Feb. 2026
-
The suspect then voluntarily relinquished a second abalone, also from her pants, according to California DFW.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Other concerns, Corrado notes, include the chance that an extremely sensitive DNA test could generate a DNA profile of someone who was never at a crime scene but whose DNA was transferred there by a family member or through other innocent means.—
Bill Chappell,
NPR,
19 Feb. 2026
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Following a few more years of work, the lexicographer—a studier or compiler of dictionaries—transferred his entire project online for anyone to peruse.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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One such royal family member was Grand Duke Emeritus Henri of Luxembourg, who abdicated in favor of his son last October.—
Stefania Conrieri,
Vanity Fair,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Congress, meanwhile, has largely abdicated its regulatory role, lulled into inaction by Silicon Valley’s campaign dollars and lobbying power.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Concerned about the safety of two children in the home, Aljorna and Sosa-Celis surrendered.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Arizona recently surrendered about a third of its allotted supply of the river through both mandatory and compensated voluntary cuts to keep Lake Mead from going dry.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Only eight of the Pikachu Illustrator cards have been awarded a PSA Grade 9 and Paul’s sale is the only PSA Grade 10, the highest and most desirable grade assigned by PSA.—
Laura Sharman,
CNN Money,
16 Feb. 2026
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Officers leaving Minnesota will report back to their stations or be assigned elsewhere.—
Ben Finley,
Fortune,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Pressure on British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is growing, after another key aide resigned over revelations about Epstein’s contact with a senior politician.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
13 Feb. 2026
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Kansas City Police Department officials announced on Friday that officer Blayne Newton has resigned from the department through a mutual separation agreement.—
Ben Wheeler,
Kansas City Star,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Continuing the direct crossover, the tongue, laces and lining are rendered in white.—
Ian Servantes,
Footwear News,
19 Feb. 2026
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First responders, including police, firefighters and EMTs, responded to the scene and immediately rendered first aid to the children, who were coming from Skinner Road School, and the drivers.—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Complicating matters further, Charles has bequeathed his school to his frenemy Magneto.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
26 Jan. 2026
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Given to Princess Mary as a wedding gift by the County of Lincoln, it was later bequeathed to Queen Elizabeth.—
Nicole Briese,
PEOPLE,
18 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ceded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ceded. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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