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Consensus

n. calm, kind professional

What it means

Broad agreement reached or recognized within a group.

Reach for it when naming a shared position while preserving the existence of dissent

The workshop reached consensus on three priorities and recorded two reservations.

Words to choose between 7

By register, from playful at the top to literary at the bottom. Tap a word to see when it fits.
everyday
warm
professional
formal
literary

  • everyday

    agreement

    Fits when people accept the same view or terms

    Careful Agreement can involve only two parties and may be narrow or temporary.

  • warm

    shared view

    Fits when participants hold a similar understanding

    Careful A shared view may emerge informally without a decision process.

  • professional

    broad support

    Fits when many members favor a proposal

    Careful Support can be substantial without crossing the group's consensus rule.

  • professional

    general agreement

    Fits when plain wording should show that support is broad

    Careful General agreement is accurate but gives no clue how it was reached.

  • formal

    common accord

    Fits when shared acceptance suits ceremonial or diplomatic prose

    Careful Common accord sounds elevated and may suggest stronger harmony than exists.

  • formal

    unanimity

    Fits when every participant agrees

    Careful Unanimity is stricter than consensus, and silence cannot establish it.

  • literary

    convergence

    Fits when different positions move closer over time

    Careful Convergence can stop short of actual agreement.

Opposites 3

  • dissent
  • deadlock
  • division

Common phrases 5

  • reach consensus

    The panel could not reach consensus until the cost assumptions were shared.

  • broad consensus

    A broad consensus supported the route, though one neighborhood objected.

  • consensus on

    There was consensus on the goal but not the schedule.

  • consensus among

    Consensus among the reviewers emerged after the raw figures were shared.

  • consensus view

    The consensus view preserved one written reservation.

Usage notes

Keep in mind

Consensus is not necessarily unanimity. State the decision rule and record material dissent when the distinction matters.

Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Wodencafe, American accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC0 Updated