consent 1 of 2

consent

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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
Cables, exits, insurance, consent protocols. Bob Bonniol, Rolling Stone, 29 Oct. 2025 Pact agrees that informed consent is an important principle. Jake Kanter, Deadline, 29 Oct. 2025
Verb
Currently, children as young as 12 years old must consent to share online medical records with their parents. Jessie Balmert, Cincinnati Enquirer, 15 Oct. 2025 But as Sora sits atop the iOS App Store with over 1 million downloads, experts worry about its potential to deluge the internet with historical misinformation and deepfakes of deceased historical figures who cannot consent to or opt out of Sora’s AI models. Jared Perlo, NBC news, 12 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for consent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for consent
Noun
  • Used with the permission of the publisher, Simon & Schuster.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Revoke any unnecessary permissions immediately.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 5 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • China has built Russia’s defense industrial base, helped Iran provide Russia with one-way attack uncrewed aerial vehicles, and assented as North Korea has sent troops to fight in Europe.
    Kurt M. Campbell, Foreign Affairs, 10 Apr. 2025
  • His representatives soon assented to de Moraes’s orders, including taking down the offending accounts and paying the fines.
    Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Lawmakers from both major political parties have expressed concerns about Trump ordering the military actions without receiving authorization from Congress or providing many details.
    Preston Fore, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2025
  • Employees represented by United Auto Workers at Volkswagen’s Chattanooga plant workers will hold a strike authorization vote next week, following the company’s final offer last month.
    Stuart Dyos, Nashville Tennessean, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Buyers agree that the shoes are comfortable for all-day wear.
    Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 26 Oct. 2025
  • More recently, high-profile firms including Amazon, Apple, Coinbase, Comcast, Google, Lockheed Martin and Meta Platforms have agreed to help finance the ballroom Trump plans for the White House after ordering the building’s East Wing to be demolished.
    Bill Barrow, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Consent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/consent. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on consent

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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