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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
Sensing his son’s remorse for his hurtful words, dad was then able to have what seemed to be a helpful conversation with him about consent, accountability, and what to do when teasing crosses the line. Christian Dashiell, Parents, 1 Aug. 2026 Today, advances in AI, combined with HIPAA-compliant data sharing and patient consent, are making that vision much more achievable. Hansa Bhargava, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
Verb
It’s sourced mostly from my open records requests, plus one video that was shared with me by a parent who consented to its publication. Jennifer Smith Richards, ProPublica, 24 July 2026 The law prevents those under the age of 16 from creating or keeping accounts on covered platforms by limiting the age at which minors can sign the contract required to open an account and consent to share their data via a terms of service. Ravi Iyer, Time, 18 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for consent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for consent
Noun
  • The core challenge is agents' ability to exploit existing weaknesses at scale, necessitating improved governance and careful permission management.
    Sandy Carter, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
  • If a parent denies permission, the platform will automatically revert to a chronological feed of posts shared by people the child already follows, resembling social media apps before the rise of algorithms.
    Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 1 Aug. 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
  • Markham Park District executive director Quintina Brown hired a helicopter for her daughter's prom send-off, which then landed in Roesner Park without authorization on May 8.
    Jermont Terry, CBS News, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Oklo says the Reactor Pilot Program allowed those activities to move forward alongside the DOE’s safety review and authorization.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 6 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • However, the agency backtracked and agreed to review the shot after Moderna promised to conduct another study after the shot became available on the market.
    Youri Benadjaoud, ABC News, 5 Aug. 2026
  • If this core demand is not met, Iran is unlikely to agree to a deal.
    , CNBC, 5 Aug. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Consent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/consent. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

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