Word: conceded

Associations

"Conceded" refers to admitting that something is true or accepting defeat, often after some resistance.

• Example 1: "After a long debate, he conceded that his opponent had a valid point." (He admitted that the other person's argument was correct.)
• Example 2: "The team conceded a goal in the final minutes of the match." (The team allowed the other team to score, often indicating they might lose.)
• Example 3: "She conceded the election after realizing she did not have enough votes." (She accepted that she would not win the election.)

A well-known synonym for "conceded" is "admitted." The important difference is that "admitted" focuses more on accepting a fact, while "conceded" often relates to giving in or accepting defeat in a contest or argument.

Substitution

You can also use words like "acknowledged," "submitted," or "yielded." Each has a slightly different meaning:

• "Acknowledged" implies recognition of a fact but doesn’t necessarily mean giving up.
• "Submitted" suggests accepting without contest but is often used in formal settings.
• "Yielded" implies giving way to pressure or persuasion, often in a competitive context.

Deconstruction

The word "conceded" comes from the Latin "concedere," where "con-" means "together" and "cedere" means "to go." So, it relates to the idea of going along with or granting something to someone else.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when you conceded a point in a discussion? How did it feel?
• In what situations do you think people are most likely to concede?
• Why do you think it can be difficult for some people to concede, even when they know they are wrong?