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
Other information about the winner is released only with the winner's consent. Steven Martinez, jsonline.com, 15 Feb. 2026 Etiquette rules include always sitting on a towel when nude and not taking photos of others without consent. Nathan Diller, USA Today, 15 Feb. 2026
Verb
The Fourth Amendment generally requires a judge’s warrant or consent for law enforcement to enter a private residence. Nancy M. Preyor-Johnson, San Antonio Express-News, 7 Feb. 2026 And then there is the matter of California Coastal Commission regulations established in 2023 — and consented to by the San Diego City Council — requiring establishments closest to the beach to replace any public parking spaces taken by street dining. Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for consent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for consent
Noun
  • According to a report from Axios, Disney sent a cease-and-desist letter Friday to ByteDance, accusing the company of distributing and reproducing its intellectual property through the new AI tool without permission.
    Dylan Butts, CNBC, 16 Feb. 2026
  • The legal action also seeks permission to appoint outside counsel selected by the Auditor’s Office to Special Assistant Attorney General (SAAG) to represent them – something Attorney General Andrea Campbell says DiZoglio does not have the authority to do.
    Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 16 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Petro finally assented, after several former Colombian Presidents offered to help smooth things over, and the relationship calmed down.
    Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 15 Jan. 2026
  • Key to the proposal, which is similar to one former President Joe Biden made more than a year ago, is Hamas assenting both to be disarmed and removed from governing Gaza.
    Dina Kraft, Christian Science Monitor, 30 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The union already has strike authorization from 98% of the refinery’s 840 union workers; Local 7-1’s bargaining unit will take it to USW international for final approval.
    Michelle L. Quinn, Chicago Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026
  • Matt Faustman is the co-founder and CEO of Honey Health, a company that develops AI tools designed to automate tasks for providers — including managing fax inboxes, processing prior authorizations and retrieving patient records.
    Windsor Johnston, NPR, 14 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • But surprisingly, not everyone agrees.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Feb. 2026
  • Building a car factory the US could take several years, but leading experts agree that most Chinese carmakers are already eyeing the US market.
    Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 15 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Consent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/consent. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on consent

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