1
as in to devour
to destroy all trace of
massive fires had consumed hundreds of square miles of forest
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to spend
to make complete use of
the mining company consumed all of the local mineral resources and then moved on
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to eat
to take in as food
hungry enough to consume most of the pie
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 consume
Iranian officials are encouraging the population to consume less electricity and gas, as a US blockade has interrupted the flow of shipments to Iran.
—
Mitchell McCluskey, CNN Money, 9 May 2026
The person struck was at least partially consumed by one of the engines, an official confirmed to ABC News, causing a brief engine fire.
—Jeffrey Cook, ABC News, 9 May 2026
The young Maiasaura ate softer, higher-protein food, while the mothers consumed tougher, less nutritious, high-fiber plant material, as noted by Bioengineer.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 9 May 2026
But most analysts say Iran can probably avoid shutting down wells since a significant amount of its oil can be consumed domestically, allowing most oil fields to keep operating.
—Dan De Luce, NBC news, 9 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for consume
Mitchell McCluskey, CNN Money, 9 May 2026
The person struck was at least partially consumed by one of the engines, an official confirmed to ABC News, causing a brief engine fire.
—Jeffrey Cook, ABC News, 9 May 2026
The young Maiasaura ate softer, higher-protein food, while the mothers consumed tougher, less nutritious, high-fiber plant material, as noted by Bioengineer.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 9 May 2026
But most analysts say Iran can probably avoid shutting down wells since a significant amount of its oil can be consumed domestically, allowing most oil fields to keep operating.
—Dan De Luce, NBC news, 9 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for consume
Recent Examples of Synonyms for consume
Verb
-
One is the Holocaust, which devoured the lives of many of the people in her pages.—
Adam Hochschild,
The New York Review of Books,
9 May 2026
-
King warned that the war would devour Johnson’s ambition for a Great Society, consuming the resources meant to relieve poverty here at home.—
Mark Conway,
Baltimore Sun,
9 May 2026
Verb
-
This is not fusion, but testament to the world as one big town, as perhaps only a third-culture kid — with Filipino and Pennsylvania Dutch ancestry, and a girlhood spent in the Deep South — would know.—
Ligaya Mishan,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
-
Barker worked at Starbucks and spent every free moment writing and shooting.—
Alex Barasch,
New Yorker,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
The question of what to eat before dessert is not, usually, top of my mind.—
Helen Rosner,
New Yorker,
10 May 2026
-
The larva will hatch and eat the paralyzed cicada.—
Pamm Cooper,
Hartford Courant,
9 May 2026
Verb
-
Weighing in at 710 tons, the sculpture was built to circulate 30,000 gallons of water but has been drained since 2024 in order to have its inner workings assessed.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
7 May 2026
-
Her own growth hasn’t just been paused by the demands of caring for a sick child, it’s been drained by the constant mental load that comes with it.—
Justin Kroll,
Deadline,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
10 May 2026
-
On Friday, a pitchers’ duel was ruined by a circus act of an inning, and the Cardinals beat the Padres 6-0.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 May 2026
Verb
-
The starting quarterback competition is coming down to returning players Cole Ballard and Isaiah Marshall, as Jalon Daniels has exhausted his eligibility and Rice transfer Chase Jenkins recovers from an injury.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
6 May 2026
-
Diplomacy, economic pressure, and international cooperation should always be exhausted first.—
Linh Tat,
Oc Register,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
The house was set to be demolished after Sprague died, but instead it was purchased and partially restored by Roger and Mary Mildred DeWitt in the 1960s.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
8 May 2026
-
Many family members are opposed to demolishing and/or selling the property.—
Mark Dent,
HubSpot,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
The law, which will allow buildings as tall as 85 feet in areas zoned for single-family housing, will take effect July 1 only in areas with high incomes and strong amenities, where new housing is more easily absorbed.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 May 2026
-
Most crashes on Florida roads involve two vehicles, with crumple zones, airbags, and seat belts absorbing the impact.—
Matt Emma,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Consume.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/consume. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
