consistent

adjective con·sis·tent \ kən-ˈsi-stənt \

|Updated on: 10 Jun 2018

Examples: consistent in a Sentence

Definition of consistent

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

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consistently

play \kən-ˈsi-stənt-lē\ adverb

See consistent defined for English-language learners

See consistent defined for kids

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, (l953) 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 of consistent from the Web

In a statement released Thursday, spokeswoman Heather Nauert said a medical team was dispatched to Guangzhou as soon as the State Department confirmed that the employee’s symptoms were consistent with those reported by the diplomats in Havana.

— josh chin, WSJ, "U.S. Evacuates Workers From China After Complaints of Mystery Illness," 7 June 2018
The facts: The positions Madaleno stakes out in the ad are all consistent with his record as a liberal leader in the Maryland Senate.

— michael dresser, baltimoresun.com, "Maryland Democrat Madaleno tells Donald Trump to kiss off in ad for his governor's campaign," 6 June 2018
Some key findings about overall district finances are consistent with earlier analyses by the district and a previous independent review.

— howard blume, latimes.com, "L.A. Unified's spending out of step with similar school systems, task force says," 5 June 2018
Our findings are consistent with the fact that data detailing the potential impacts of climate change are already widely available to sophisticated investors.

— joseph kalt, Fortune, "Climate Proposals Have No Effect on Shareholder Returns. My Research Proves It," 5 June 2018
The researchers said in the report that their conclusions were consistent with the analyses of The Times and others.

— sheri fink, New York Times, "Why Are the Death Tolls in Puerto Rico From Hurricane Maria So Different?," 2 June 2018
Alexis Santos, a Puerto Rican demographer at Penn State who conducted his own analysis of mortality following the hurricane, told Vox the study’s methodology was consistent with how other scholars have tried to measure the death toll.

— alexia fernández campbell, Vox, "Stunning new Hurricane Maria death toll confirms Puerto Rico’s devastating losses after the storm," 30 May 2018
This is consistent with the strategic intent of the Avondale MARTA Station Livable Centers Initiative Study dating back to 2002, and sets the foundation for future development in the area.

— bill banks, ajc, "Rezoning lays the groundwork for future development in east Decatur," 30 May 2018
Johnson has been a noteworthy corner both in the slot and outside, and while the entire Houston defense regressed a year ago, his performances leading up to 2017 were consistent with that of a high performing first-rounder.

— conor orr, SI.com, "True NFL Draft Grades: 2015 Draft, Three Years Later," 29 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'consistent.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.