connivance 🔊
Meaning of connivance
Secret or indirect cooperation or consent, especially in wrongdoing.
Key Difference
Unlike mere 'cooperation,' connivance implies a passive or secret agreement, often with a negative or unethical connotation.
Example of connivance
- The corrupt official acted with the connivance of several high-ranking politicians.
- The scam succeeded due to the connivance of the bank manager, who turned a blind eye to fraudulent transactions.
Synonyms
collusion 🔊
Meaning of collusion
Secret or illegal cooperation, especially to deceive others.
Key Difference
Collusion is more active and deliberate, while connivance can be passive or indirect.
Example of collusion
- The two companies were accused of collusion to fix prices and eliminate competition.
- The athletes were banned for collusion in match-fixing.
complicity 🔊
Meaning of complicity
Involvement in a wrongful act as an accomplice.
Key Difference
Complicity suggests direct participation, whereas connivance may involve silent approval.
Example of complicity
- The lawyer was charged with complicity in the money-laundering scheme.
- Her complicity in the cover-up made her equally guilty.
conspiracy 🔊
Meaning of conspiracy
A secret plan by a group to commit an unlawful or harmful act.
Key Difference
Conspiracy involves active plotting, while connivance may be passive allowance.
Example of conspiracy
- The assassination attempt was part of a larger conspiracy.
- They were arrested for conspiracy to overthrow the government.
abetment 🔊
Meaning of abetment
Encouraging or supporting someone to commit wrongdoing.
Key Difference
Abetment is active encouragement, while connivance can be silent permission.
Example of abetment
- He was convicted of abetment in the robbery case.
- Her abetment of his lies made her morally responsible.
tacit approval 🔊
Meaning of tacit approval
Silent or implied consent without open acknowledgment.
Key Difference
Tacit approval is more neutral, while connivance has a negative implication.
Example of tacit approval
- The manager’s tacit approval of overtime violations led to employee exploitation.
- By not speaking up, she gave tacit approval to the unethical behavior.
acquiescence 🔊
Meaning of acquiescence
Reluctant acceptance without protest.
Key Difference
Acquiescence suggests resignation, while connivance implies secret cooperation.
Example of acquiescence
- His acquiescence to the new policy disappointed those expecting resistance.
- The government’s acquiescence to corporate demands angered activists.
condoning 🔊
Meaning of condoning
Overlooking or forgiving wrongdoing.
Key Difference
Condoning is more about forgiveness, while connivance is about silent cooperation.
Example of condoning
- By not punishing the misconduct, the school was accused of condoning bullying.
- His silence was seen as condoning the unethical behavior.
concurrence 🔊
Meaning of concurrence
Agreement or approval, often formal.
Key Difference
Concurrence is neutral or positive, while connivance is negative and secretive.
Example of concurrence
- The decision was made with the full concurrence of the board members.
- The treaty required the concurrence of all participating nations.
winking at 🔊
Meaning of winking at
Deliberately ignoring or pretending not to see wrongdoing.
Key Difference
More informal than connivance, often implying a knowing disregard.
Example of winking at
- The supervisor was accused of winking at safety violations to meet deadlines.
- The authorities winked at minor infractions until public outrage forced action.
Conclusion
- Connivance involves secret or passive cooperation in wrongdoing, often with a negative connotation.
- Collusion is best used when describing active, secret agreements to deceive.
- Complicity should be used when someone is directly involved in a wrongful act.
- Conspiracy fits when describing secret plans for illegal or harmful actions.
- Abetment is appropriate when someone actively encourages wrongdoing.
- Tacit approval works when describing silent but not necessarily unethical consent.
- Acquiescence is best for reluctant acceptance without protest.
- Condoning applies when wrongdoing is overlooked or forgiven.
- Concurrence is neutral and formal, unlike the negative connivance.
- Winking at is an informal way to describe deliberately ignoring misconduct.