consummate

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

|Updated on: 9 Aug 2018

Examples: consummate in a Sentence

Editor's Note: Are You Using consummate Correctly?

Definition of consummate

1 : extremely skilled and accomplished

a consummate liar

a consummate professional

2 : of the highest degree

consummate skill

consummate cruelty

3 : complete in every detail : perfect

a consummate model of a clipper ship

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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

He was loved and respected by all who crossed his path, a consummate gentleman and role model.

— courant.com, "Salvatore A. Camilleri," 28 Apr. 2018
The 53-year-old Kavanaugh is the consummate Washington insider, well-liked in the city’s legal community.

— james hohmann, Washington Post, "The Daily 202: Kavanaugh’s paper trail makes his confirmation harder but ensures he’ll be reliably conservative," 10 July 2018
Azar, after all, is the consummate insider who understands pricing and rebates all too well.

— ed silverman, STAT, "He can shame Pfizer and others, but Trump doesn’t have a practical way to lower drug prices," 9 July 2018
UpWiththeSkimm #SkimmLife Name: Jessica Biel Job: Mama Bear, actress, producer, wannabe alpinist, consummate student of the @WomanCareGlobal #ThenWhoWill campaign.

— heran mamo, Billboard, "Every Photo Justin Timberlake & Jessica Biel Have Shared of Son Silas," 6 July 2018
Again, none of this falls on Chancellor, other than the fact his consummate skill in the most fundamental element of football – tackling – tended to bring the issue to the forefront.

— larry stone, The Seattle Times, "Seahawks safety Kam Chancellor’s departure elicits feelings of admiration, guilt," 3 July 2018
Interior designer and consummate hostess Charlotte Moss swoops in with her high-level, yet low-key book Charlotte Moss Entertains: Celebrations and Everyday Occasions.

— olivia martin, Town & Country, "Interior Designer Charlotte Moss Shares Her Secrets to Summer Entertaining," 7 June 2018
Parson is the consummate insider, with long relationships with legislative leaders and a reputation as a deal maker.

— jason hancock, bryan lowry and steve vockrodt, kansascity, "Who is Missouri’s next governor? Mike Parson, in many ways Greitens’ polar opposite," 29 May 2018
While always a maverick, guided only by his own enthusiasms and dislikes, Rissient was also a consummate insider, gaining the ear of top filmmakers, producers, executives, journalists and tastemakers of all kinds.

— todd mccarthy, The Hollywood Reporter, "Pierre Rissient, Acclaimed French Director and Producer, Dies at 81," 6 May 2018

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 3

See Words from the same year

consummate Synonyms

consummate

verb con·sum·mate \ ˈkän(t)-sə-ˌmāt \

Definition of consummate

consummated; consummating

transitive verb

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

consummate a marriage

2 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

intransitive verb

: to become perfected

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consummative

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

—

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

The Ilyasova signing cannot be consummated until after the league-wide moratorium period ends at 11:01 a.m. on Friday.

— matt velazquez, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Ersan Ilyasova reportedly reuniting with Bucks," 30 June 2018
While deals can't officially be consummated until July 6, the madness has already gotten underway and will only ramp up on Saturday night.

— ben ladner, SI.com, "2018 NBA Free Agency: Live Blog," 29 June 2018
According to custom in these conservative Hindu communities, while weddings are often solemnized at very young ages, a bride typically is sent to live with her husband’s family and consummate the union in her teens.

— author: shashank bengali, Anchorage Daily News, "In India, ‘child marriage is like a disease’," 24 June 2018
Hyde is the fourth unrestricted free agent the Browns have agreed to terms with in the past two days, but deals can't be consummated until 4 p.m. today.

— mary kay cabot, cleveland.com, "Browns are signing Carlos Hyde, former Buckeyes RB, to 3-year deal," 14 Mar. 2018
According to custom in these conservative Hindu communities, while weddings are often solemnized at very young ages, a bride typically is sent to live with her husband’s family and consummate the union in her teens.

— author: shashank bengali, Anchorage Daily News, "In India, ‘child marriage is like a disease’," 24 June 2018
That’s because both he and Vaughn were undergoing physicals and taking the necessary steps to consummate the trade.

— matt velazquez, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Bucks are excited to add Tyler Zeller's size, experience and character to the team's mix," 6 Feb. 2018
According to custom in these conservative Hindu communities, while weddings are often solemnized at very young ages, a bride typically is sent to live with her husband’s family and consummate the union in her teens.

— author: shashank bengali, Anchorage Daily News, "In India, ‘child marriage is like a disease’," 24 June 2018
According to custom in these conservative Hindu communities, while weddings are often solemnized at very young ages, a bride typically is sent to live with her husband’s family and consummate the union in her teens.

— shashank bengali, latimes.com, "An Indian activist fights in court to help child brides and grooms win their lives back," 18 June 2018