acquiesce
ak-wee-ESS
/ˌækwiˈes/
To accept something reluctantly but without protest; to agree quietly.
Acquiesce implies a passive, silent agreement. The person agreeing might not be enthusiastic, but they choose not to fight or argue.
The story behind the word. Acquiesce comes from the Latin 'acquiescere', which is built from 'ad-' (to) and 'quiescere' (to rest or be quiet). The root is the same one that gave us 'quiet'. Historically, to acquiesce was to find peace or rest by stopping your struggle and remaining quiet.
Word relationships
- comply: Comply implies following a rule or command, while acquiesce is more about quiet, passive acceptance of a situation.
- concede: Concede means to admit defeat or yield a point in an argument, whereas acquiesce is to quietly go along with a decision.
- resist: Resist is to actively fight against something, the opposite of quietly accepting it.
- protest: Protest is to publicly and loudly object, while acquiesce is to quietly stay silent.
Commonly confused with
- acquire: Acquire means to obtain or buy something, while acquiesce means to agree reluctantly.
Word family
- acquiescence (noun): The reluctant acceptance of something without protest.
- acquiescent (adjective): Ready to accept something without protest.
Collocations
- acquiesce to demands
- silently acquiesce
- refuse to acquiesce
Example sentences
- "The prime minister decided to acquiesce to the demands of the protesters to avoid further unrest." A political situation where a leader yields to public pressure.
- "Tired of the argument, he finally acquiesced and agreed to spend the holidays with his in-laws." A domestic situation where someone gives in to a family member's preference.
Memory hook
Think of 'acquiesce' as 'acquiring quietness' by giving in to the other side. Acquiesce = Quietly yield to keep the peace.
When not to use
Do not use acquiesce when someone is enthusiastically supporting an idea; it must involve a degree of reluctance or passivity.
Fun facts
- The word 'quiet' and the musical term 'crescendo' (via its opposite, decrescendo/quieting down) share ancient roots with acquiesce.
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