as in reciprocal
agreed to by the people involved; done with the consent of the people involved
a consensual decision She claims their relationship was consensual.
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Recent Examples of consensual
As of state legislation passed in 2024, creating or distributing non-consensual pornographic deepfakes is a misdemeanor offense in Indiana.
—
Hayleigh Colombo, IndyStar, 19 Sep. 2025
Some of the comments described non-consensual and fetish-style scenarios.
—Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 18 Sep. 2025
At least 14 CEOs have been fired for apparently consensual affairs since 2016, according to Challenger Gray & Christmas data, often coinciding with either operational missteps or misuse of corporate assets.
—Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 4 Sep. 2025
Famously, Steve Easterbrook, the former chief executive of McDonald’s, walked away from the role with a hefty sum of $40 million after getting caught having a consensual relationship with a subordinate.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 2 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for consensual
Hayleigh Colombo, IndyStar, 19 Sep. 2025
Some of the comments described non-consensual and fetish-style scenarios.
—Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 18 Sep. 2025
At least 14 CEOs have been fired for apparently consensual affairs since 2016, according to Challenger Gray & Christmas data, often coinciding with either operational missteps or misuse of corporate assets.
—Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 4 Sep. 2025
Famously, Steve Easterbrook, the former chief executive of McDonald’s, walked away from the role with a hefty sum of $40 million after getting caught having a consensual relationship with a subordinate.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 2 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for consensual
Recent Examples of Synonyms for consensual
Adjective
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Under the deal’s first phase, Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire, the release of all surviving Israeli hostages held in Gaza and the reciprocal release of almost 2,000 Palestinian detainees.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Oct. 2025
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Following up on Brazil as the country of honor at this year’s Marché du Film in Cannes, the RioMarket organized a series of events as part of the France-Brazil Season 2025, celebrating 200 years of diplomatic relations with a reciprocal cultural exchange between the two countries.—
Rafa Sales Ross,
Variety,
13 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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It’s aimed at weakening our collective, across-the-board sense of boundaries, the mutual adherence to limits that sports are supposed to teach.—
Sally Jenkins,
The Atlantic,
11 Oct. 2025
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Despite the glamorous nature of their lives under the spotlight, Hadid and Cooper met under pleasantly ordinary circumstances — at a backyard birthday party for a mutual friend’s child.—
Desiree Anello,
PEOPLE,
11 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The United Kingdom and India conducted their first-ever dual aircraft carrier operation during a bilateral military exercise in the Indian Ocean this week, as both nations have been alarmed by China's increasingly assertive behavior across the Indo-Pacific region.—
Ryan Chan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Oct. 2025
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The move follows bilateral discussions earlier this year geared toward the reestablishment of air travel.—
Jordan Blum,
Fortune,
3 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Consensual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/consensual. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.
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