1
as in consumed
to take in as food
having gone all day without food, we greedily ate the hamburgers
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in eroded
to consume or wear away gradually
the pot's protective coating was eaten away by the acid
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in dined
to take a meal
where's the best place to eat in this town?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in annoyed
to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts
it really eats me the way people go to national parks to enjoy nature—and then leave their litter behind
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ate
On one day in late December, Eden barely ate all day.
—
Angela Andaloro, People.com, 5 Aug. 2025
While neither is an effective big league pitcher at this point, those moves ate into the Yankees’ limited rotation depth.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 4 Aug. 2025
Some theologians argued that Adam and Eve, as well as all the animals in the Garden of Eden, ate only plants.
—Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 4 Aug. 2025
Modest renovations accomplished that goal — the space pulses with history and nostalgia as old photos hint at how, decades ago, neighbors ate and drank shoulder to shoulder here.
—Kayleigh Ruller, Charlotte Observer, 10 Apr. 2025
In testing, 75% of users ate a greater variety of plants than before using the app.
—Nicki Sprinz, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
Pigs and other animals brought to the island also ate dodo eggs.
—Mike Snider, USA Today, 8 Apr. 2025
One study found that men who ate whole eggs immediately after resistance exercise experienced greater post-exercise muscle protein synthesis rates than men who consumed egg whites.
—Jillian Kubala, Rd, Health, 25 Feb. 2025
The Knicks had a good test in front of them and apparently just ate the Scantron instead of filling it out.
—Zach Harper, The Athletic, 24 Feb. 2025
Angela Andaloro, People.com, 5 Aug. 2025
While neither is an effective big league pitcher at this point, those moves ate into the Yankees’ limited rotation depth.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 4 Aug. 2025
Some theologians argued that Adam and Eve, as well as all the animals in the Garden of Eden, ate only plants.
—Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 4 Aug. 2025
Modest renovations accomplished that goal — the space pulses with history and nostalgia as old photos hint at how, decades ago, neighbors ate and drank shoulder to shoulder here.
—Kayleigh Ruller, Charlotte Observer, 10 Apr. 2025
In testing, 75% of users ate a greater variety of plants than before using the app.
—Nicki Sprinz, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
Pigs and other animals brought to the island also ate dodo eggs.
—Mike Snider, USA Today, 8 Apr. 2025
One study found that men who ate whole eggs immediately after resistance exercise experienced greater post-exercise muscle protein synthesis rates than men who consumed egg whites.
—Jillian Kubala, Rd, Health, 25 Feb. 2025
The Knicks had a good test in front of them and apparently just ate the Scantron instead of filling it out.
—Zach Harper, The Athletic, 24 Feb. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ate
Verb
-
The product was discontinued in the 1980s following public concerns about Pop Rocks, including rumors that the candy could be dangerous when consumed with soda.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Crismon notes that fresh juice should be consumed within three to five days.—
Avery Newmark,
AJC.com,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Governor Kathy Hochul's once-commanding lead over Republican Bruce Blakeman has eroded by half in three months, collapsing from 26 points in January to just 13 points, according to the latest Siena Research Institute poll.—
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The church’s conservative views on social issues including same-sex partnerships and women in leadership have eroded its relationships with more liberal iterations of the Anglican Communion, particularly in Britain and North America.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Consumer research from OpenTable and KAYAK found that 60% of those surveyed had dined solo at a sit-down restaurant in the past 12 months.—
Lauren Schuster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Consumer research from OpenTable and KAYAK found that 60% of those surveyed had dined solo at a sit-down restaurant in the past 12 months.—
Lauren Schuster,
Miami Herald,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The platform’s staff has seemed minorly annoyed at the shots Denk and others at Beehiiv have taken as Substack has moved from disruptor to incumbent.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
30 Mar. 2026
-
One who grew up respectful but annoyed by the success the league previously had in Seattle.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Coors Field has made Hall of Famers feign injuries, rookies beg for mercy, and used Lorenzen for dental floss after the Phillies devoured, in order, his curve, slider, cutter, changeup and sinker.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Astronomers have used the XRISM (X-Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission) X-ray spacecraft to discover that a star is being slowly devoured by an elusive stellar companion, solving a mystery that has baffled scientists for over a century.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Whether or not Ye used AI to make Bully, the album nonetheless feels like decades of his music fed into a computer program.—
Jeff Ihaza,
Rolling Stone,
31 Mar. 2026
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But fortunately, the larvae happily fed on the tiny crustaceans called copepods that the aquarists gave them.—
Ari Daniel,
NPR,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Heat’s third matchup of the season against the Raptors didn’t go well either, as Toronto’s length on the defensive end again bothered Miami.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Some voters were bothered by Turning Point's involvement.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In his mind’s eye, the 68-year-old former rancher sees a meadow that once rippled with ribbons of grass, on which black Brangus cows feasted but are here no more.—
Shi En Kim,
AZCentral.com,
26 Mar. 2026
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The Knicks have feasted on a soft part of their schedule, beating Indiana twice, Utah, Brooklyn and Washington during the winning streak, which came entirely against teams with losing records.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ate. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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