consent 1 of 2

Definition of consentnext

consent

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word consent distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of consent are accede, acquiesce, agree, assent, and subscribe. While all these words mean "to concur with what has been proposed," consent involves the will or feelings and indicates compliance with what is requested or desired.

consented to their daughter's going

When could accede be used to replace consent?

In some situations, the words accede and consent are roughly equivalent. However, accede implies a yielding, often under pressure, of assent or consent.

officials acceded to the prisoners' demands

When would acquiesce be a good substitute for consent?

The words acquiesce and consent can be used in similar contexts, but acquiesce implies tacit acceptance or forbearance of opposition.

acquiesced to his boss's wishes

Where would agree be a reasonable alternative to consent?

While the synonyms agree and consent are close in meaning, agree sometimes implies previous difference of opinion or attempts at persuasion.

finally agreed to come along

When might assent be a better fit than consent?

The synonyms assent and consent are sometimes interchangeable, but assent implies an act involving the understanding or judgment and applies to propositions or opinions.

voters assented to the proposal

When can subscribe be used instead of consent?

The words subscribe and consent are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, subscribe implies not only consent or assent but hearty approval and active support.

subscribes wholeheartedly to the idea

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 consent
Noun
The model’s pitch is built on consent, transparency, rights clearance, and creator participation to attempt to make AI additive rather than extractive. Jeff Benjamin, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026 The charges included felon in possession of a firearm, petty theft, driving or taking a vehicle without consent, false impersonation, evading a police officer and failure to appear in court. Jason Green, Mercury News, 19 June 2026
Verb
The lawsuit says such approval violated National Park Service regulations prohibiting sporting events on federal parklands, Congress did not consent to the towering arch overlooking the event space and no environmental review was conducted before the construction. Dan Gelston, Chicago Tribune, 10 June 2026 The split was immediate, as a large share of social media and several critics framed the move as a kind of digital resurrection that the dead can’t consent to, and Tupac trended for the wrong reasons. Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for consent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for consent
Noun
  • Reprinted by permission of HarperCollins Publishers.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 June 2026
  • Comic books until then had been strictly boys’-own adventures, with titles like Eagle and Hotspur, that gave young boys permission to revel in the grim 20th century wars their fathers had fought in.
    Damon Wise, Deadline, 22 June 2026
Verb
  • Her mother reluctantly assented, so long as Carol went with her.
    Jonathan Franzen, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
  • Switzerland voted to enshrine the availability of cash in its constitution, assenting to a push designed to guard against the demise of physical money.
    Bastian Benrath-Wright, Bloomberg, 8 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The plan includes more space for private businesses, imports and exports without state intermediation, free hiring of personnel, authorization for private banks and investment by Cubans abroad.
    Andrea Rodríguez, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2026
  • Drone operators who enter restricted airspace without authorization can face fines of up to $100,000, confiscation of their aircraft, and federal criminal charges.
    Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 19 June 2026
Verb
  • The team agreed to acquire wing Aaron Wiggins from the Thunder in exchange for two second-round picks, according to a person familiar with the situation.
    Lauren Williams, AJC.com, 22 June 2026
  • Most experts and laypeople would agree that today’s AI is not sentient.
    Rob Toews, Forbes.com, 22 June 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Consent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/consent. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.

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