acquiescent

adjective

ac·​qui·​es·​cent ˌa-kwē-ˈe-sᵊnt How to pronounce acquiescent (audio)
Synonyms of acquiescentnext
: tending to accept or allow what others want or demand : inclined to acquiesce
a politician accused of being too acquiescent to the demands of special interests
acquiescently adverb

Synonyms of acquiescent

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Examples of acquiescent in a Sentence

The acquiescent girl became a strong assertive woman. was not as acquiescent about sharing her room as her parents seemed to think she should be
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Where Raphael’s infant Christ is plump, acquiescent, docile, Cassatt’s children squirm, resist, and ignore authority. — Carmen Rosenberg-Miller, Artforum, 6 Aug. 2026 That amendment had been made a dead letter by Jim Crow state legislatures and an acquiescent Supreme Court. — Robert D. Bland, The Conversation, 30 Apr. 2026 Trump is the most corrupt and scandal-plagued president since Nixon; indeed, his fiascoes eclipse Nixon’s, but many of them remain mostly or somewhat hidden, thanks in part to a much more acquiescent Republican Congress than the one Nixon had. — David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 8 Apr. 2026 Don’t ask the Constitution to tame a reckless president supported by a cravenly acquiescent Congress. — Clive Crook, Twin Cities, 25 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for acquiescent

Word History

Etymology

acquiesce + -ent variant of -ant entry 2 (or borrowed from Latin acquiēscent-, acquiēscens, present participle of acquiēscere)

First Known Use

1616, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of acquiescent was in 1616

Rhymes for acquiescent

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Browse Nearby Words

acquiescency
acquiescent
acquirable
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Cite this Entry

“Acquiescent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/acquiescent. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

acquiescent

adjective
ac·​qui·​es·​cent ˌak-wē-ˈes-ᵊnt How to pronounce acquiescent (audio)
: acquiescing or tending to acquiesce
acquiescently adverb
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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