CONSUME Synonyms: 141 Similar and Opposite Words

consume

verb

kən-ˈsüm

Definition of consume

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

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

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 Their presence may pose a risk depending on the amount consumed and the age and body weight of the person using the product. — ABC News, 9 Oct. 2026 The exact quantity of water consumed by AI data centers remains debated. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Oct. 2026 The buildout has faced backlash from communities and activists who argue such projects would raise utility costs for locals and consume significant amounts of water. — Ananya Chetia, CNBC, 9 Oct. 2026 Srour says this distinction could make a difference, as eating a small snack after an early dinner may not have the same impact as consuming a large, rich meal shortly before sleep. — Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 9 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for consume

Recent Examples of Synonyms for consume

Verb

All the while, Alabama decided that fans would not be allowed to set up any type of tailgate until after 12 noon local time today in an abundance of caution for the wind and rain that would devour the area.

— Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2026
The zombie is one of the most elastic and grotesque villains in the genre, shifting dramatically from early-Hollywood films built on racial stereotypes to the now-popular vision of a monster that yearns to devour those still living.

— Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of devour

Verb

The frontman said he was humbled by the action and was touched to spend time with members of the Minneapolis community who worked on the front lines during the ICE surge.

— Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
OpenAI, for example, expects to spend more than $25 billion on training alone this year.

— Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of spend

Verb

Stitt, who grew up in Cullman, an hour north, the son of a country doctor, reminisces about traveling to eat with his parents—to New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Miami.

— Leslie Pariseau, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Oct. 2026
The pastors, authors and avid outdoorsmen harvest several deer during hunting season each year, filling their freezers with venison to be eaten.

— Peter Burke, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of eat

Verb

Flash flooding is of greatest concern in the Jonas Ridge, Ginger Cake Acres and Pisgah National Forest areas, along with streams and waterways that drain toward Lake James, Burke County officials said.

— Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 9 Oct. 2026
On the ground floor, outside the main building, a humanoid was flat on its back after draining its battery during a demo.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of drain

Verb

For one thing, Baron Haussmann had demolished swaths of the neighborhood in the mid-eighteen-hundreds to create the Place de la République.

— Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
In the 1990s, plans to demolish the deteriorating site and replace it with an underground car park sparked fierce opposition from local residents and traders, who successfully campaigned to save it.

— Alessia Armenise, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of demolish

Verb

Fans care about rivalries among teams made up of students who generally progress through college and exhaust their eligibility alongside their classmates, rather than athletes whose college careers extend well beyond the traditional timeline.

— Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Across a vast and punishing Atlantic, the voyage exhausted the patience of its crew, but never the conviction of its captain.

— Mackenzie Chase, The Washington Examiner, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of exhaust

Browse Nearby Words

consumable

consume

consumed

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Style

“Consume.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/consume. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of consume

verb

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