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Definition of consentnext

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 parties hoped to see Judge Martinez-Olguin give the consent degree the green light last week. — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 28 Sep. 2026 Because of his injuries, the sheriff's office said he was issued felony citations for several offenses, including burglary, evading, reckless driving and taking a vehicle without the owner's consent. — Cecilio Padilla, CBS News, 28 Sep. 2026
Verb
The release said Johnson did not consent to or cooperate with a standard medical screening usually conducted when he was booked into the Tarrant County Jail, which cannot be forced by staff. — Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Sep. 2026 The genetic genealogy technique involves taking crime scene evidence to develop a profile that is used to search consumer DNA databases for genetic relatives who consented to assist law enforcement. — Rebecca White, New York Daily News, 18 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for consent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for consent
Noun
  • When something goes wrong, investigate both the why behind the behavior and the why behind the permission.
    — Shashwat Sehgal, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026
  • California just legalized plug-in panels, no permission required.
    — L.A. Times Staff, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • False endorsement and misappropriation, FanDuel could insist, are inapplicable to a personalized video setting where the video’s talent voluntarily assents in exchange for compensation.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 14 July 2026
  • Their mothers assented because anything the cousins did together could be considered family time.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 29 June 2026
Noun
  • For example, the person cannot change residence or travel to another municipality or province without authorization and must appear before the court when summoned.
    — Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026
  • But threat detection should sit alongside runtime authorization rather than replace it.
    — Shashwat Sehgal, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • While a handful of less-influential militias have agreed to turn over their weapons, powerful groups close to Iran rejected the prospect or set conditions for disarming that the government would be unlikely to meet.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 1 Oct. 2026
  • After the Black Lives Matter marches of 2020, the NYPD agreed to prohibit the technique as part of a federal class action settlement.
    — Sophie Landres, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Consent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/consent. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.

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