consistent
adjective
con·sis·tent
kən-ˈsi-stənt 
1
a
: marked by harmony, regularity, or steady continuity : free from variation or contradiction
a consistent style in painting
b
: marked by agreement : compatible
—usually used with with
statements not consistent with the truth
c
: showing steady conformity to character, profession, belief, or custom
a consistent patriot
2
: tending to be arbitrarily close to the true value of the parameter estimated as the sample becomes large
a consistent statistical estimator
3
archaic
: possessing firmness or coherence
Examples of consistent in a Sentence
… the sixty-five-year-old filmmaker continues to practice his craft with consistent artistic aplomb.
—
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone, 30 Aug. 2001
I am not consistent about giving vibrancy and other kinds of input to a relationship. … There are periods when I am the most attentive and thoughtful lover in the world, and periods, too, when I am just unavailable.
—Toni Cade Bambara, "A Conversation with Claudia Tate,"
in The Story and Its Writer, edited by Ann Charters, 1987
One of the strengths of Blake's letters is their consistent readability …
—William Styron, This Quiet Dust and Other Writings, (1953) 1982
The rhythm of the gesture never varied. The paper flew in identically the same arc at each doorway, landed in identically the same spot. It was impossible for anybody to throw with such consistent perfection.
—Madeleine L'Engle, A Wrinkle in Time, (1962) 1976
He is a consistent supporter of the museum.
We need to be more consistent in handling this problem.
Customers expect that the quality of service they receive will be consistent.
The pain has been consistent.
Your grades have shown consistent improvement this school year.
Their descriptions of the accident were consistent.
The decision was consistent with the company's policy.
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone, 30 Aug. 2001
I am not consistent about giving vibrancy and other kinds of input to a relationship. … There are periods when I am the most attentive and thoughtful lover in the world, and periods, too, when I am just unavailable.
—Toni Cade Bambara, "A Conversation with Claudia Tate,"
in The Story and Its Writer, edited by Ann Charters, 1987
One of the strengths of Blake's letters is their consistent readability …
—William Styron, This Quiet Dust and Other Writings, (1953) 1982
The rhythm of the gesture never varied. The paper flew in identically the same arc at each doorway, landed in identically the same spot. It was impossible for anybody to throw with such consistent perfection.
—Madeleine L'Engle, A Wrinkle in Time, (1962) 1976
He is a consistent supporter of the museum.
We need to be more consistent in handling this problem.
Customers expect that the quality of service they receive will be consistent.
The pain has been consistent.
Your grades have shown consistent improvement this school year.
Their descriptions of the accident were consistent.
The decision was consistent with the company's policy.
Recent Examples on the Web
Henry Nicholls | Afp | Getty Images There was a sense that KKR and Stonepeak were getting an outrageous bargain and also that PHP, founded 30 years ago by the property entrepreneur Harry Hyman, who remains the company's chairman, deserved backing following years of consistent performance.
—Ian King, CNBC, 20 Aug. 2025
The staple skill at the top of the men’s tour is a consistent serve that earns low-effort points, because the returner struggles to put it back into play.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2025
Spectrum’s plans are popular for their consistent speeds and wide coverage across the city.
—Kara McGinley, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2025
The lack of consistent humidity, especially at night, allowed fires to remain active 24 hours a day, hindering firefighting efforts.
—Hayleigh Evans, AZCentral.com, 19 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for consistent
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Ian King, CNBC, 20 Aug. 2025
The staple skill at the top of the men’s tour is a consistent serve that earns low-effort points, because the returner struggles to put it back into play.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2025
Spectrum’s plans are popular for their consistent speeds and wide coverage across the city.
—Kara McGinley, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2025
The lack of consistent humidity, especially at night, allowed fires to remain active 24 hours a day, hindering firefighting efforts.
—Hayleigh Evans, AZCentral.com, 19 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for consistent
Cite this Entry
“Consistent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/consistent. Accessed 5 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
consistent
adjective
con·sis·tent
kən-ˈsis-tənt
1
: being in agreement or harmony
actions consistent with our policy
2
: being unchanging in behavior or beliefs
a consistent supporter
consistently
adverb
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