1
as in consumed
to take in as food
having gone all day without food, we greedily ate the hamburgers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
-
That would leave the US emergency oil reserve with the least amount of oil since the early 1980s, when the economy was smaller and consumed less energy.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
9 June 2026
-
These microscopic structures accelerate the chemical breakdown without being consumed by the reaction.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
Others spend hundreds of millions only to be left with excess inventory, eroded margins and consumers who have already moved on.—
Keren Novack,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
-
As the rocks eroded and wore away into their iconic shapes, Native people hunted, gathered and farmed beside them.—
Alia Beard Rau,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
The party then continued with a reception in the sumptuous halls of Palazzo Gangi, with catering from Osteria dei Vespri, a venue in Piazza Croce dei Vespri where the couple had dined last summer.—
Stefania Conrieri,
Vanity Fair,
6 June 2026
-
While much has been made of the midcentury glitterati that dined there (Truman Capote, Gloria Vanderbilt, Eleanor Roosevelt), the real luxury was in the kitchen, where the spirit of Freetown informed the herbed roast chicken and soufflé (among other dishes).—
The New York Times News Service Syndicate,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
And get annoyed when people spell it wrong anyway?—
Marla Jo Fisher,
Oc Register,
10 June 2026
-
Rather than be annoyed, however, both Zach and Kayda seem to mostly welcome Bryce’s presence, all three of them bonded.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
His public appearances away from work tend to happen organically, as people have devoured every peek into his world.—
Jared Weiss,
New York Times,
5 June 2026
-
The moment marks the point of no return, as Clark forces his therapist to affirm him, abandoning any possibility of growth—Clark is devoured by his own worst self.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
The 22-mile-long, 12-mile-wide snow-fed lake holds 40 trillion gallons of water and is surrounded by 72 miles of shoreline.—
Alia Beard Rau,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
-
Like dogs and cats, carnivorous plants can be fed and watered.—
John Metcalfe,
Mercury News,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
But former captain Landon Donovan is bothered by the fact that no American side since 2002 has won a knockout-round game and reached the quarterfinals.—
Julian Cardillo,
Boston Herald,
9 June 2026
-
Be specific about what behaviors bothered the rest of the group, and tell him no one is willing to travel with her again.—
Jeanne Phillips,
Mercury News,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
But because Towns was in position, Anunoby, Bridges and Hart each feasted by reaching-in and poking the ball free.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
5 June 2026
-
Going into Tuesday’s game, the Diamondbacks had feasted on left-handed pitching.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ate. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
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