consummate

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adjective con·sum·mate \ ˈkän(t)-sə-mət , kən-ˈsə-mət \

Definition of consummate

1 :complete in every detail :perfect

a consummate model of a clipper ship

2 :extremely skilled and accomplished

a consummate liar

a consummate professional

3 :of the highest degree

consummate skill

consummate cruelty

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consummately

adverb

See consummate defined for English-language learners

See consummate defined for kids

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Examples of consummate in a Sentence

… Berg, the consummate schmoozer, was the perfect spy for the job. —Dick Teresi, New York Times Book Review, 24 July 1994
To thrive in science, you must be both a consummate collaborator and a relentless competitor. —Natalie Angier, New York Times Book Review, 6 Nov. 1988
The rest of his life (he lived for a few more years) was one great consummate silence. —R. K. Narayan, "Under the Banyan Tree," in The Story and Its Writer, edited by Ann Charters, 1987
"How dare you!" Natalie screamed, in consummate frustration … —Joseph Wambaugh, The Black Marble, l978
He plays the piano with consummate skill.
consummate cabinetmakers, they produced desks and chests of drawers that are now regarded as masterpieces of American furniture

Recent Examples of consummate from the Web

Typically professional and efficient, there was no rush for a third goal, particularly with Las Palmas having been kept at arm's length with seemingly consummate ease.

— SI.com, "Las Palmas 1-5 Atletico Madrid: Koke Brace Helps Clincial Atleti Comfortably See Off La UD," 27 Aug. 2017
Hawkins, 44, carved out a 21-year career in Major League Baseball by being a consummate professional on and off the field.

— terez a. paylor, kansascity, "Before Patrick Mahomes can win Chiefs’ QB job, he must win over his teammates," 26 Aug. 2017
That gives Marchionne, a consummate deal maker, 18 months to secure a new owner for the automaker.

— brent snavely, Detroit Free Press, "Why a sale of Fiat Chrysler to a Chinese buyer could happen," 14 Aug. 2017
The setting is Israel, where Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, viewed by foes and admirers alike as a consummate political survivor, faces the growing prospect of criminal charges that could ultimately dislodge him.

— noga tarnopolsky, latimes.com, "For Israel’s Netanyahu, a legal net tightens and talk turns to an agile political survivor’s possible demise," 8 Aug. 2017
Last year, Daenerys brought Varys, the consummate master of whispers, into her fold.

— joanna robinson, vanityfair.com, "One Game of Thrones Scene Explains Why Daenerys Is Losing the War," 6 Aug. 2017
Last year, Daenerys brought Varys, the consummate master of whispers, into her fold.

— joanna robinson, HWD, "One Game of Thrones Scene Explains Why Daenerys Is Losing the War," 6 Aug. 2017
The two have always had a unique kinship amid the Fleetwood Mac melodrama, bonding decades ago as the band’s consummate multi-instrumentalists.

— deborah wilker, Billboard, "Fleetwood Mac's Lindsey Buckingham & Christine McVie Introduce Vibrant New Material at Sold-Out L.A. Show," 3 Aug. 2017
VanCleave, a consummate creative, refers to Horning as a futurist whose willingness to take risks has always paid off.

— audrey st. clair, Orlando Signature, "Team Tile," 28 July 2017

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

Are You Using consummate Correctly?

Consummate, which derives from the Latin verb consummare (meaning "to sum up" or "to finish"), has been used as an adjective in English since the 15th century. Some usage commentators feel the word is overused and others think it should be limited to the "perfect" sense (as in "a consummate little model of a clipper ship"), but neither of those positions is more than an opinion. All of the senses of the word are well-established and have served careful writers well for many, many years.

Origin and Etymology of consummate

Middle English consummat fulfilled, from Latin consummatus, past participle of consummare to sum up, finish, from com- + summa sum

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First Known Use: 15th century

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consummate Synonyms

consummate

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verb con·sum·mate \ ˈkän(t)-sə-ˌmāt \

Definition of consummate

consummated; consummating

transitive verb

1 a :finish, complete

consummate a business deal

b :to make perfect

c :achieve

… his desire of consummating victory and revenge made him cautious …
—Edward Bulwer-Lytton

2 :to make (marital union) complete by sexual intercourse

consummate a marriage

intransitive verb

:to become perfected

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consummative

play \ˈkän(t)-sə-ˌmā-tiv, kən-ˈsə-mə-tiv\ adjective

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consummator

play \ˈkän(t)-sə-ˌmāt-ər\ noun

See consummate defined for English-language learners

Examples of consummate in a Sentence

In part she had loved him for that, loved the tender understanding with which he had acquiesced to her wish not to consummate their relationship out of wedlock. —Dorothy West, The Wedding, 1995
Once the sale was consummated, a thorough housecleaning took place in the advertising department … —Brendan Gill, New York Times Book Review, 4 Oct. 1987
By prolonging the suspense and terror, he was needlessly delaying the reconciliation he himself was yearning so dearly to consummate. —Joseph Heller, God Knows, 1984
The bargaining process went on for a few days, but the deal was never consummated.
Their happiness was consummated when their son was born.

Recent Examples of consummate from the Web

One of the sweetest romances on the show is consummated, with her on top.

— paul schrodt, GQ, "Every Game of Thrones Nude Scene, Ranked by Whether Anyone Really Needed to Be Naked," 11 July 2017
That deal, consummated in the early hours of free agency last year, looked terrible at the time and grew to look even worse as the 30-year-old center averaged a paltry 7.4 PPG and 4.9 RPG in just 54 appearances last year.

— ben golliver, SI.com, "Trade Grades: Lakers Ship D'Angelo Russell To Nets In Salary Dump," 21 June 2017
The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the trade hadn’t been consummated Tuesday.

— jon krawczynski, The Seattle Times, "AP sources: Lakers to ship Russell, Moz to Nets for Lopez," 20 June 2017
Neither side will reveal the specifics in the deal that’s expected to have been consummated.

— eric stephens, Orange County Register, "Ducks leave Sami Vatanen, Josh Manson available for NHL expansion draft," 18 June 2017
Portland's biggest tech company will make a third attempt to consummate its $1.3 billion sale to Chinese investors, Reuters reported Sunday.

— mike rogoway, OregonLive.com, "Lattice Semiconductor will try again to sell to China, Reuters says," 11 June 2017
There’s a couple arguing about who left the fireplace grate open, three young bachelors intent on having the best night ever, a gloomy guy who died right before consummating his marriage. Saunders’

— wired staff, WIRED, "9 Essential Summer Reads—From Sci-Fi to Philosophical Superheroes," 26 May 2017
If Verizon’s multimillion-dollar deal with Yahoo is consummated, the remaining company would be called Altaba and be headed by a new board that will not include CEO Marissa Mayer or co-founder David Filo.

— ethan baron, The Mercury News, "Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer will exit board after Verizon sale," 9 Jan. 2017
LONDON — European competition regulators will closely review a potential takeover of Monsanto by the German chemical maker Bayer if a deal were to be consummated, according to a letter released on Wednesday.

— chad bray, New York Times, "A Bayer Deal for Monsanto Would Get E.U. Regulatory Scrutiny," 29 June 2016