acquiescent
/,ækwwi'esnt/
Definition
- Adjective:
- Willing to accept or agree to something without protest or resistance: Describes a person or attitude that readily complies with the requests, orders, or wishes of others, often without expressing disagreement.
- Characterized by passive acceptance or submission: Implies a tendency to agree or yield quietly, sometimes suggesting a lack of assertiveness.
Usage
- The adjective "acquiescent" describes a state of agreement or compliance. It is often used to characterize a person's behavior or a general attitude.
- It typically carries a neutral to slightly negative connotation, implying passive agreement rather than enthusiastic consent.
- Common collocations include: , , [someone/something].
Examples
- General Usage:
- The manager preferred acquiescent employees who followed instructions without question.
- She gave an acquiescent nod, signaling her agreement to the proposed plan.
- With Preposition 'to':
- The population grew increasingly acquiescent to the new regulations.
- He was too acquiescent to his supervisor's demands, even when they were unreasonable.
Advanced Usage
- In a Societal or Political Context: Used to describe groups or populations that accept conditions without active opposition.
- The acquiescent public allowed the policy to pass with little debate.
- Psychological or Behavioral Analysis: Used to describe a personality trait or learned response.
- Her acquiescent demeanor was a result of years in a strictly hierarchical environment.
Variants and Related Words
- Acquiesce (verb): To accept, comply, or agree tacitly, often reluctantly.
- He decided to acquiesce to their demands for the sake of peace.
- Acquiescence (noun): The act or state of acquiescing; passive acceptance.
- Their silence was interpreted as acquiescence.
Synonyms
- Compliant: Willing to conform or agree.
- Submissive: Ready to submit to the authority or will of others.
- Deferential: Showing respect and submission to the judgment or wishes of another.
- Docile: Easily managed or taught; submissive.
- Tractable: Easily controlled or influenced.
Antonyms
- Recalcitrant: Resisting authority or control; disobedient.
- Defiant: Showing bold resistance or opposition.
- Assertive: Confidently self-assured; not passive.
- Rebellious: Defying or resisting authority.
Idioms and Phrases
- To be acquiescent in the face of...: To remain passively accepting despite a challenging situation.
- They were criticized for being acquiescent in the face of injustice.
- An acquiescent silence: A silence that implies consent or lack of objection.
- His acquiescent silence was taken as approval for the project.
Adjective
-
willing to carry out the orders or wishes of another without protest
-
too acquiescent to challenge authority
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