INTERCEDE Synonyms: 30 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'intercede' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of intercede are interfere , interpose , intervene , and mediate . While all these words mean "to come or go between," intercede implies acting for an offender in begging mercy or forgiveness. // interceded on our behalf

Q: When could 'interfere' be used to replace 'intercede'?

While the synonyms interfere and intercede are close in meaning, interfere implies hindering. // noise interfered with my concentration

Q: When is it sensible to use 'interpose' instead of 'intercede'?

While in some cases nearly identical to intercede , interpose often implies no more than this. // interposed herself between him and the door

Q: When would 'intervene' be a good substitute for 'intercede'?

The meanings of intervene and intercede largely overlap; however, intervene may imply an occurring in space or time between two things or a stepping in to stop a conflict. // quarreled until the manager intervened

Q: When can 'mediate' be used instead of 'intercede'?

The words mediate and intercede are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, mediate implies intervening between hostile factions. // mediated between the parties

intercede

verb

ˌin-tər-ˈsēd

Definition of intercede

as in to intervene

to act as a go-between for opposing sides asked an old friend of the family to intercede in the bitter dispute over the inheritance

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word intercede different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of intercede are interfere, interpose, intervene, and mediate. While all these words mean "to come or go between," intercede implies acting for an offender in begging mercy or forgiveness.

interceded on our behalf

When could interfere be used to replace intercede?

While the synonyms interfere and intercede are close in meaning, interfere implies hindering.

noise interfered with my concentration

When is it sensible to use interpose instead of intercede?

While in some cases nearly identical to intercede, interpose often implies no more than this.

interposed herself between him and the door

When would intervene be a good substitute for intercede?

The meanings of intervene and intercede largely overlap; however, intervene may imply an occurring in space or time between two things or a stepping in to stop a conflict.

quarreled until the manager intervened

When can mediate be used instead of intercede?

The words mediate and intercede are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, mediate implies intervening between hostile factions.

mediated between the parties

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of intercede Recently, the agency interceded on Home Depot’s behalf in a case pending before the Supreme Court. — Paul Kiel, ProPublica, 8 July 2026 Like a modern Odysseus, they are beset by fate to wander and suffer, but the gods will always intercede to help them out with a convenient flood or unlikely coincidence. — Literary Hub, 30 June 2026 Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told The Associated Press in March that Turkey had interceded to defuse the tensions. — ABC News, 28 June 2026 Packwood took the case to federal court and lost, ending when Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist refused the senator’s request for the high court to intercede. — Los Angeles Times, 7 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for intercede

Recent Examples of Synonyms for intercede

Verb

The judges pressed federal lawyers on whether the request violates states’ constitutional authority over elections and whether the appeals court can intervene before a lower-court ruling.

— Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes ended up intervening, the story says.

— Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of intervene

Verb

Trump trade adviser Peter Navarro also warned Canada last month against interfering in the midterms.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026
Experts worry federal law enforcement could potentially use those false claims — or others generated this year — as pretext to try to seize ballots during the counting period, or interfere in the process in some other way.

— Miles Parks, NPR, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of interfere

Browse Nearby Words

intercalating

intercede

interceded

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Intercede.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/intercede. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of intercede

verb

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

milieu

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes