1
as in relinquishes
to give (something) over to the control or possession of another usually under duress
she reluctantly ceded her position as leader
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2
as in assigns
to give over the legal possession or ownership of
Spain ceded Puerto Rico to the United States as part of the settlement of the Spanish-American War
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in abdicates
to give up (as a position of authority) formally
the President officially cedes his position on the January 20th immediately following the presidential election
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Recent Examples of cedes
The specialization that cedes politics, economics or communication to separate disciplines is, in sociology, an invitation to synthesize and to consider how these broad social processes engage, reinforce or conflict with one another.
—
Wendy Nelson Espeland, Mercury News, 11 Feb. 2026
The lead-up to Kennedy’s circus of sci-fi fantasists and food bloggers provides an object lesson in how the left cedes fertile political territory to the right.
—Annie Levin, Washington Post, 10 Feb. 2026
The specialization that cedes politics, economics or communication to separate disciplines is, in sociology, an invitation to synthesize and to consider how these broad social processes engage, reinforce or conflict with one another.
—Wendy Nelson Espeland, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2026
In this case, Davis is more amused than embarrassed, and soon cedes the new man to Winnie.
—Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2026
Zelensky doesn’t have the domestic backing necessary for a deal that cedes territory.
—Ian Bremmer, Time, 28 Dec. 2025
The other major stumbling block is the future of Ukraine’s Donbas region, which Russia is demanding Kyiv cedes control of as a condition of the deal.
—Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 16 Dec. 2025
Locals refer to East River and West River, and the wetness and moisture of the Great Lakes and Mississippi basin—its thick canopy of trees, its suppleness—cedes to an aridity and expansiveness that bears its own harsh beauty.
—Literary Hub, 21 Nov. 2025
But at this year's Japan Mobility Show, the Delica cedes the stage to an even cooler Mitsubishi camping rig, a futuristic concept combo that expands into a multi-room base camp.
—New Atlas, 29 Oct. 2025
Wendy Nelson Espeland, Mercury News, 11 Feb. 2026
The lead-up to Kennedy’s circus of sci-fi fantasists and food bloggers provides an object lesson in how the left cedes fertile political territory to the right.
—Annie Levin, Washington Post, 10 Feb. 2026
The specialization that cedes politics, economics or communication to separate disciplines is, in sociology, an invitation to synthesize and to consider how these broad social processes engage, reinforce or conflict with one another.
—Wendy Nelson Espeland, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2026
In this case, Davis is more amused than embarrassed, and soon cedes the new man to Winnie.
—Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2026
Zelensky doesn’t have the domestic backing necessary for a deal that cedes territory.
—Ian Bremmer, Time, 28 Dec. 2025
The other major stumbling block is the future of Ukraine’s Donbas region, which Russia is demanding Kyiv cedes control of as a condition of the deal.
—Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 16 Dec. 2025
Locals refer to East River and West River, and the wetness and moisture of the Great Lakes and Mississippi basin—its thick canopy of trees, its suppleness—cedes to an aridity and expansiveness that bears its own harsh beauty.
—Literary Hub, 21 Nov. 2025
But at this year's Japan Mobility Show, the Delica cedes the stage to an even cooler Mitsubishi camping rig, a futuristic concept combo that expands into a multi-room base camp.
—New Atlas, 29 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cedes
Verb
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Could this be the anarchic mind that emerges when the ego relinquishes its hold?—
Michael Pollan,
The Atlantic,
26 Jan. 2026
-
If a player chooses not to negotiate with the Panthers, that player will be unable to sign elsewhere, unless Carolina relinquishes his rights by not offering him a tender.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Under current law the Legislature cannot, merely by passing a bill, grant to the attorney general prosecutorial authority that the Texas constitution expressly assigns to district attorneys.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
-
This year’s House budget revives the idea of the office and assigns it $53 million.—
Lawrence Mower,
Miami Herald,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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When the federal government abdicates its responsibility for public health, states, localities, and communities of experts can still try to fill the void.—
Dhruv Khullar,
New Yorker,
24 Sep. 2025
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When in a turn of events, Theo abdicates from his position as Duke of Tintagel, and would therefore be divorcing Nan to be with Lizzie, Nan runs away to protect her baby, who would be the heir of Tintagel.—
Maelle Beauget-Uhl,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Peter then surrenders to Catherine, who demands his explanation for going AWOL.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Carrie Fisher and Bruno Kirby are the secret weapons, and Nora Ephron's script never surrenders to sentimentality.—
Bill Goodykoontz,
USA Today,
15 Dec. 2025
Verb
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No map—not even special ones developed by the Swiss military and downloadable to one's phone—properly conveys the area's topographical irregularity.—
Alice Gregory,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Feb. 2026
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The outrage infrastructure that has cropped up around the game since then conveys a totalizing hunger for culture war.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Stephen Miran resigns from his White House post as chair of the Council of Economic Advisers, CNBC confirmed.—
Yeo Boon Ping,
CNBC,
4 Feb. 2026
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Three months later, a critical engineering group resigns together.—
Vibhas Ratanjee,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
When cooked from frozen, the fat renders gradually for even browning.—
Anne Wolf,
Martha Stewart,
8 Feb. 2026
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The directive, contained in a memo obtained by the New York Times, reverses long-standing ICE policy and effectively renders the warrant requirement itself empty.—
Noah Feldman,
Twin Cities,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The transfer shell game The problems compound when ICE transfers detainees without notice, a practice attorneys said is a kind of shell game designed to frustrate legal challenges.—
Ben Fenwick,
Oklahoma Watch,
13 Feb. 2026
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Save Your Pay, which transfers a percentage of each paycheck into savings, and Save Your Change, which rounds up checking account transactions to the nearest dollar and transfers the difference to savings.—
Andreina Rodriguez,
CNBC,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cedes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cedes. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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