What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
relented
Example
After much pleading, the teacher relented and allowed the students to have a longer break. [relented: verb]
Example
The company finally relented and agreed to the union's demands. [relented: past tense]
acquiesced
Example
He reluctantly acquiesced to his boss's request to work overtime. [acquiesced: verb]
Example
The team acquiesced to the referee's decision, even though they disagreed with it. [acquiesced: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Relented is more commonly used in everyday language than acquiesced. Relented is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while acquiesced is less common and tends to be used in more formal or literary contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between relented and acquiesced?
Acquiesced is generally considered more formal than relented. While relented can be used in both formal and informal contexts, acquiesced is typically reserved for more formal or literary writing.
