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defer to

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accept v.
acknowledge v.
fall v.
respect v.
revere v.
revere/reverence v.

VERB

Synonyms

STRONGEST

acknowledge agree recognize respect take tolerate

STRONG

acquiesce assent bear bow capitulate endure stand stomach suffer swallow

WEAK

bear with don't make waves don't rock the boat fit in go along with live with play the game sit still for stand for submit to yield to

Antonyms

STRONGEST

contradict disallow disapprove misunderstand refuse stop

STRONG

defend disagree dissent fight reject

WEAK

blackball decline demur deny discard dispute renounce repudiate

VERB

acknowledge

Synonyms

STRONGEST

accept agree defend endorse recognize support

STRONG

accede acquiesce allow approve certify grant own ratify uphold yield

WEAK

attest to subscribe to take an oath

Antonyms

STRONGEST

contradict decline deny disagree disapprove dispute oppose protest refuse reject renounce

STRONG

condemn disallow disavow invalidate veto

WEAK

abjure disregard forswear ignore repudiate

VERB

fall

Synonyms

STRONGEST

die drop give up go down slump

STRONG

bend capitulate obey perish resign submit succumb yield

WEAK

back down be casualty be destroyed be killed be lost be taken eat dirt fall to pieces give in give way go under lie down pass into enemy hands

Antonyms

STRONG

fight

WEAK

advance overcome overthrow win

VERB

respect

Synonyms

STRONGEST

adhere to appreciate comply with heed honor recognize regard revere uphold value

STRONG

adore attend esteem follow note notice reverence spare venerate

WEAK

abide by be awed by be kind to have good opinion of have high opinion look up to observe of pay attention set store by show consideration show courtesy take into account think highly of

Antonyms

STRONGEST

disregard ignore neglect overlook

STRONG

hate

WEAK

condemn disobey disrespect scorn

VERB

revere

Synonyms

STRONGEST

admire adore appreciate cherish enjoy exalt hero-worship honor regard respect venerate worship

STRONG

apotheosize deify esteem love magnify prize reverence treasure value

WEAK

pay homage

Antonyms

STRONGEST

abhor condemn criticize denounce despise detest dishonor dislike disregard disrespect hate scorn

VERB

revere/reverence

Synonyms

WEAK

admire adore apotheosize appreciate be in awe of cherish deify enjoy esteem exalt hold in awe honor look up to love magnify pay homage prize put on pedestal regard respect think highly of treasure value venerate worship

Antonyms

WEAK

despise disregard

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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defer to

But sometimes the law Congress enacts explicitly directs the judiciary to defer to the views of federal agencies who have studied a difficult problem and made evidence-based recommendations.

From Slate ● Oct. 6, 2026

We’re supposed to understand and defer to their personal affinities?

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026

Whether this legal challenge will succeed depends in part on whether judges will continue to defer to the president on these particular levies, no matter how much they deviate from previous practice.

From Salon ● Aug. 16, 2026

In a new filing on Monday night, the Manhattan district attorney's office said it would "defer to the court's judgement" on courtroom access.

From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026

The society was to defer to the word of no authority but stick to the facts.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

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