CONSENT Synonyms: 83 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

consent 1 of 2

noun

Definition of consent next

as in permission

the approval by someone in authority for the doing of something we had to get our neighbor's consent in order to trim the tree from his side

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

consent

2 of 2

verb

kən-ˈsent

as in to assent

to give or express one's approval (as to a proposal) refused to consent to the marriage

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Examples 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

For a player drafted and signed into NPB to leave before playing nine years in the league, he must first be posted — with his team’s consent — and even then, the player signs with a Major League organization only if his Japanese team is paid a fee. —

Chad Jennings, The Athletic, 16 Jan. 2025 Volunteers must be 21 and consent to background check. —

Joe Rassel, Orlando Sentinel, 15 Jan. 2025

Verb

Frampton and Blake-Walker both denied the charges and said the two women had consented. —

Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 16 Dec. 2024 Unless Moscow legally consents that the funds be used for that purpose, key European states will continue to object to spending them for fear of setting a dangerous precedent. —

Samuel Charap, Foreign Affairs, 24 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for consent

Recent Examples of Synonyms for consent

Noun

An asylum-seeker may be able to stay in the U.S. and receive permission to work while their case is pending, which requires them to show up for interviews.

Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton, The Denver Post, 12 Jan. 2025
TikTok’s Terms and Policies acknowledge that creators own their original content but grant TikTok and its user base a range of permissions (a license), including the right to access, modify, and share their content on third-party platforms.

Veronica Ramirez, Forbes, 11 Jan. 2025