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dissent

[ dih-sent ]
/ dÉȘˈsɛnt /
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See synonyms for: dissent / dissenting on Thesaurus.com
verb (used without object)
to differ in sentiment or opinion, especially from the majority; withhold assent; disagree (often followed by from): Two of the justices dissented from the majority decision.
to disagree with the methods, goals, etc., of a political party or government; take an opposing view.
to disagree with or reject the doctrines or authority of an established church.
noun
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Origin of dissent

1400–50; late Middle English dissenten (<Middle French dissentir) <Latin dissentīre, equivalent to dis-dis-1 + sentīre to feel

synonym study for dissent

4, 6. Dissent, dissidence mean disagreement with the majority opinion. Dissent may express either withholding of agreement or open disagreement. Dissidence, formerly much the same as dissent, has come to suggest not only strong dissatisfaction but a determined opposition.

OTHER WORDS FROM dissent

dis·sent·ing·ly, adverbnon·dis·sent·ing, adjective, nounun·dis·sent·ing, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH dissent

decent, descent, dissent

Words nearby dissent

disseminating, dissemination, disseminator, disseminule, dissension, dissent, dissenter, dissentient, dissenting opinion, dissentious, dissepiment
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

DISSENT VS. DESCENT

What's the difference between dissent and descent?

Dissent can be a noun meaning disagreement, as in I voiced my dissent, or a verb meaning to disagree, as in The judge is expected to dissent. Descent is a noun that means the act of moving downward (descending), a downward movement, or downward movement in general.

The two words are pronounced exactly the same.

Perhaps the best way to remember the difference between the two is to think about what related words mean and how they’re spelled. Words related to dissent involve agreement or disagreement and end with -sent, including assent and consent.

Words related to descent involve movement and are spelled with sc, including descend, ascent, ascension, and transcend.

Here’s an example of dissent and descent used correctly in a sentence.

Example: There was dissent among the climbers about whether they should attempt the descent during the storm.

Quiz yourself on dissent vs. descent!

Should dissent or descent be used in the following sentence?

The plane’s rapid _____ was caused by a faulty engine.

Words related to dissent

discord, dissension, disunity, objection, opposition, protest, resistance, schism, strife, balk, contradict, demur, differ, bone, clinker, conflict, contention, denial, difference, disaccord

How to use dissent in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for dissent

dissent
/ (dÉȘˈsɛnt) /
verb (intr)
to have a disagreement or withhold assent
Christianity to refuse to conform to the doctrines, beliefs, or practices of an established church, and to adhere to a different system of beliefs and practices
noun
a difference of opinion
Christianity separation from an established church; Nonconformism
the voicing of a minority opinion in announcing the decision on a case at law; dissenting judgment

Derived forms of dissent

dissenter, noundissenting, adjectivedissentingly, adverb

Word Origin for dissent

C16: from Latin dissentīre to disagree, from dis- 1 + sentīre to perceive, feel
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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