Synonym Chooser

How does the verb concede contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of concede are accord, award, grant, and vouchsafe. While all these words mean "to give as a favor or a right," concede implies yielding something reluctantly in response to a rightful or compelling claim.

even her critics concede she can be charming

In what contexts can accord take the place of concede?

The synonyms accord and concede are sometimes interchangeable, but accord implies giving to another what is due or proper.

accorded all the honors befitting a head of state

When can award be used instead of concede?

In some situations, the words award and concede are roughly equivalent. However, award implies giving what is deserved or merited usually after a careful weighing of pertinent factors.

awarded the company a huge defense contract

When is it sensible to use grant instead of concede?

The meanings of grant and concede largely overlap; however, grant implies giving to a claimant or petitioner something that could be withheld.

granted them a new hearing

When could vouchsafe be used to replace concede?

The words vouchsafe and concede can be used in similar contexts, but vouchsafe implies granting something as a courtesy or an act of gracious condescension.

vouchsafed the secret to only a few chosen disciples

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 concede During opening arguments, the defense conceded that Lawson is guilty of tampering with evidence. Killian Baarlaer, The Courier-Journal, 2 July 2025 Nielsen and his colleagues concede that their current work does not establish causation, with at least the possibility existing that bad dreams and poor sleep may lead to equally poor dietary habits, rather than the other way around. Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 1 July 2025 Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano conceded that despite his team’s improbable undefeated run through the group stage, they were outclassed by their Parisian opponents, who move on to the quarterfinals to play Bayern Munich, which beat Flamengo 4-2 at Hard Rock Stadium Sunday later afternoon. Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 29 June 2025 Even many defenders conceded the program didn’t fully work as planned. The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 27 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for concede
Recent Examples of Synonyms for concede
Verb
  • Nobody admits that all this activity serves as cover for avoiding the work that scares us: making real decisions, shipping imperfect products, having difficult conversations.
    Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
  • Adler responded by encouraging others to express interest in running the simulation for their organization (there is a form to fill out), but admitted that forecasts and predictions are hard.
    Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 26 June 2025
Verb
  • Most of the resulting plants succumbed to rust; the few that made it were crossed with one another to produce the next generation.
    Elizabeth Kolbert, New Yorker, 23 June 2025
  • Don’t succumb to the urge to overfertilize, which leads to other problems. 4.
    Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 June 2025
Verb
  • During an interview with the detectives, Owen confessed to the shooting and provided multiple corroborating details, police said Detectives then obtained an arrest warrant and took him into custody.
    Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 June 2025
  • After being caught, Rudolph confessed to the crimes that killed two people in a plea bargain that took the death penalty off the table.
    Andy Rose, CNN Money, 28 June 2025
Verb
  • This dual-layer approach ensures accurate judgment when reviewing résumés submitted via AI systems.
    Sherri Reese, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
  • Or a therapist who submits weekly reports for a patient, only to later discover that the patient had been in custody for months.
    William Jones, USA Today, 30 June 2025
Verb
  • The city of Live Oak acknowledged Pamma’s arrest in a statement and declined further comment.
    Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 27 June 2025
  • However, both executives acknowledged current economic challenges in the streaming sector.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 27 June 2025
Verb
  • Left-hander José Castillo surrendered RBI singles to Eli White and Nick Allen.
    Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 25 June 2025
  • Dominic Canzone’s sixth-inning home run was the seventh run Ober gave up, marking the second time in three starts that Ober has surrendered seven runs.
    Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 24 June 2025
Verb
  • The University of Pennsylvania agreed to a resolution with President Donald Trump's administration to keep males out of women's sports and apologize to every woman swimmer who was affected by the presence of trans athlete Lia Thomas in the 2021-22 season.
    Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2025
  • Earlier this year, Kubler settled the SEC’s claims and agreed to pay penalties.
    Sydney Sasser, Charlotte Observer, 1 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Concede.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/concede. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.

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