1
as in relinquishes
to give (something) over to the control or possession of another usually under duress
she reluctantly ceded her position as leader
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in assigns
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 abdicates
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 cedes
Lean too far toward caution and a firm cedes ground to bolder rivals and to the automation-first newcomers.
—
Dara-Abasi Ita, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
That’s what happens when the hegemon cedes hegemony.
—Robert Kagan, The Atlantic, 21 May 2026
In this instance, the goalie cedes a lot of ice behind him to cover off a pass.
—Fluto Shinzawa, New York Times, 9 May 2026
Annie gets the best monologue as Maggie but cedes the part’s biggest musical moment to Babs.
—Chris Feil, Vulture, 1 May 2026
Choosing silence also cedes our right to free speech.
—Jenna Norton, STAT, 12 Mar. 2026
The specialization that cedes politics, economics or communication to separate disciplines is, in sociology, an invitation to synthesize and to consider how these broad social processes engage, reinforce or conflict with one another.
—Wendy Nelson Espeland, Mercury News, 11 Feb. 2026
The lead-up to Kennedy’s circus of sci-fi fantasists and food bloggers provides an object lesson in how the left cedes fertile political territory to the right.
—Annie Levin, Washington Post, 10 Feb. 2026
The specialization that cedes politics, economics or communication to separate disciplines is, in sociology, an invitation to synthesize and to consider how these broad social processes engage, reinforce or conflict with one another.
—Wendy Nelson Espeland, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2026
Dara-Abasi Ita, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
That’s what happens when the hegemon cedes hegemony.
—Robert Kagan, The Atlantic, 21 May 2026
In this instance, the goalie cedes a lot of ice behind him to cover off a pass.
—Fluto Shinzawa, New York Times, 9 May 2026
Annie gets the best monologue as Maggie but cedes the part’s biggest musical moment to Babs.
—Chris Feil, Vulture, 1 May 2026
Choosing silence also cedes our right to free speech.
—Jenna Norton, STAT, 12 Mar. 2026
The specialization that cedes politics, economics or communication to separate disciplines is, in sociology, an invitation to synthesize and to consider how these broad social processes engage, reinforce or conflict with one another.
—Wendy Nelson Espeland, Mercury News, 11 Feb. 2026
The lead-up to Kennedy’s circus of sci-fi fantasists and food bloggers provides an object lesson in how the left cedes fertile political territory to the right.
—Annie Levin, Washington Post, 10 Feb. 2026
The specialization that cedes politics, economics or communication to separate disciplines is, in sociology, an invitation to synthesize and to consider how these broad social processes engage, reinforce or conflict with one another.
—Wendy Nelson Espeland, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cedes
Verb
-
Could this be the anarchic mind that emerges when the ego relinquishes its hold?—
Michael Pollan,
The Atlantic,
26 Jan. 2026
-
If a player chooses not to negotiate with the Panthers, that player will be unable to sign elsewhere, unless Carolina relinquishes his rights by not offering him a tender.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
How Cycle Syncing Works Cycle syncing divides the roughly 28-day menstrual cycle into four hormonal phases and assigns different foods, workouts and work priorities to each.—
Allison Palmer
Updated June 13,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 June 2026
-
Objection assigns a human investigator — at the $2,000 price tier, a college graduate; for $10,000, a former CIA or FBI agent — to gather evidence, which is displayed as exhibits.—
Gary Baum,
HollywoodReporter,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
When the state abdicates its duty, the people must step in.—
William Morris,
Des Moines Register,
17 Mar. 2026
-
When the federal government abdicates its responsibility for public health, states, localities, and communities of experts can still try to fill the void.—
Dhruv Khullar,
New Yorker,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The ayatollahs won’t make any deal that surrenders their nuclear program.—
Rob Crilly,
The Washington Examiner,
22 May 2026
-
Alex Murdaugh surrenders Murdaugh turned himself in at the Hampton County Detention Center.—
Marlene Lenthang,
ABC News,
14 May 2026
Verb
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What Labbé conveys through his prose here is the ways that soccer, at this highest of levels, can create a kind of collective experience for both players and spectators.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 June 2026
-
The line conveys wastewater across Tijuana and its collapse sent excessive flows to the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant, which is designed to handle 35 million gallons per day.—
Walker Armstrong,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
If the sitting governor dies, resigns or is removed from office, the lieutenant governor would assume the role.—
Katie King,
Los Angeles Times,
10 June 2026
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But the rare situation of selecting an acting mayor in April 2027 will only commence if Biss resigns in time to trigger the special election.—
Claire Murphy,
Chicago Tribune,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
That production always and everywhere buys production is what renders bitcoin the opposite of money.—
John Tamny,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
-
Without revealing too much, this structure from al-Mansour and co-writer Brad Niemann ends up having a roundabout reason too, given a bizarre third-act twist that renders moot the film’s entire point of view, along with its central themes.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
Many of the Division I transfers who came in were underutilized at their previous schools and have thrived.—
Eric Olson,
Chicago Tribune,
12 June 2026
-
But there’s no legal mechanism to stop a migrant from being deported to a third country, which then transfers them home.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
26 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cedes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cedes. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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