Formal/Legal:
* Relinquish: This is a good general synonym, meaning to give up something.
* Yield: This implies giving in to pressure or force.
* Surrender: This suggests giving up something to an enemy or superior force.
* Concede: This means to admit something is true or to give in to a demand.
* Transfer: This implies moving ownership or control to another party.
* Alienate: This suggests giving up something permanently.
Informal:
* Give up: This is the most casual synonym.
* Hand over: This implies transferring possession.
* Let go of: This implies releasing something emotionally.
* Give way to: This suggests yielding to something else.
The best synonym for "cede" will depend on the specific situation and the desired tone.