Synonyms of consent

consent 1 of 2

noun

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

• permission
• authorization
• granting
• permit
• sanction
• warrant
• license
• clearance
• allowance
• signature
• leave
• concurrence
• green light
• accreditation
• sufferance
• grant
• assent
• agreement
• certification
• seal
• acceptance
• liberty
• stamp
• tolerance
• acquiescence
• patent
• imprimatur
• pass
• concession
• toleration
• OK
• accord

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• refusal
• prohibition
• denial
• revocation
• rejection
• injunction
• veto
• exclusion
• suppression
• proscription
• interdiction
• repression
• ban
• deterrence
• taboo
• embargo
• discouragement

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

• assent
• agree
• acquiesce
• accede
• submit
• subscribe
• succumb
• come round
• adopt
• abide
• tolerate
• bear (with)
• stand
• embrace
• suffer
• endure
• yield
• espouse
• bow
• swallow
• take
• stomach
• relent
• knuckle under

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dissent
• refuse
• reject
• deny
• scorn
• spurn
• rebuff
• gainsay

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

Recent Examples of consent

Noun

Village trustees approved the expense with several other measures that were included on the meeting’s consent agenda. —Jennifer Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 22 May 2026

But the history of sterilization is also deeply entangled with coercion in the form of racial targeting, invalid consent and state control. —Kimberly Turner, The Conversation, 22 May 2026

Verb

Venezuela has warned that its participation in the hearings does not mean either consent to or recognition of the ICJ’s jurisdiction. —ABC News, 10 May 2026

Given a chance to appear on camera, Attenborough consented, though at first to no great effect. —Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 8 May 2026