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 The issue has come to consume much of the party’s energy, with hardly a Democratic event going by without disruptions from pro-Palestinian activists. — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 19 July 2026 Fabricating a purely electromechanical robot at the millimeter scale requires intricate, heavy motors that consume significant power, typically draining tiny batteries within mere minutes of operation. — New Atlas, 18 July 2026 The most visible impact is electricity use, which can translate into greenhouse gas emissions depending on when and where the power is consumed. — Bridget Shirvell, Hartford Courant, 18 July 2026 This happens regardless of when it’s consumed, but alcohol timing changes how much disruption reaches your rest period. — Lauren Panoff, Verywell Health, 17 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for consume

Recent Examples of Synonyms for consume

Verb

That's because the mechanisms by which black holes devour matter to grow and then merge to create even more massive black holes should take at least 1 billion years to achieve supermassive status.

— Robert Lea, Space.com, 19 July 2026
Is there another dish that consumers routinely devour despite scientific research showing each serving takes about 36 minutes off your life, at least according to the University of Michigan?

— Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 19 July 2026

Definition of devour

Verb

Some key participants spend months getting ready for the celebrations.

— ABC News, ABC News, 19 July 2026
The more modern versions alternate rough branches and irregular shapes with classic designs, transforming coral into a warm accent that immediately evokes the Mediterranean, Southern Italy, and summers spent by rocky shores and crystal-clear seas.

— Selene Oliva, Glamour, 18 July 2026

Definition of spend

Verb

After facing a man-eating Cyclops (Bill Irwin) and an island full of armored giants known as the Laestrygonians, the Greeks land on Circe’s island on the hunt for food.

— Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 19 July 2026
What’s more thrilling than watching dinosaurs try to eat people alive on the big screen?

— Matt Minton, Variety, 19 July 2026

Definition of eat

Verb

Floyd is no longer attracted to his wife, has trouble connecting with his teen-age stepson, and owes tens of thousands in taxes—a set of stressors that are ruining his health.

— Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 22 July 2026
That would ruin a good thing, apparently, and Foerster credited Puni for not only playing through a knee injury last fall but overcoming early-career growing pains.

— Cam Inman, Mercury News, 20 July 2026

Definition of ruin

Verb

The shattered standing forlornly by the podium at the end of a draining tournament, hearts broken, bodies exhausted, having to watch as the opposition receive the reward that England were agonisingly close to.

— Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 19 July 2026
Ryan Fox took home the Claret Jug after draining a birdie putt on the 18th hole to win the 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale on Sunday.

— Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 19 July 2026

Definition of drain

Verb

With little time to recover on the ball, such sequences only serve to exhaust Argentina, running low on energy to exert such pressure themselves.

— Thom Harris, New York Times, 20 July 2026
This rule doesn’t apply to the high school class of 2022, many of whom exhausted their NCAA eligibility with the 2025-26 season.

— Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 20 July 2026

Definition of exhaust

Verb

Four Months Before the Wedding If your primary concern is eradicating sun spots or hyperpigmentation before your wedding—whether that be on your face or body—speak with your dermatologist about the possibility of laser treatments.

— Rio Viera-Newton, Vogue, 23 July 2026
Four centuries later, in the mid-20th century, China’s government similarly encouraged people to eradicate over a billion sparrows to prevent them from depleting grain supplies.

— Elan Abrell, The Conversation, 22 July 2026

Definition of eradicate

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 26 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of consume

verb

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