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Synonym Chooser

How does the noun consequence differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of consequence are importance, moment, significance, and weight. While all these words mean "a quality or aspect having great worth or significance," consequence generally implies importance because of probable or possible effects.

the style you choose is of little consequence

When might importance be a better fit than consequence?

Although the words importance and consequence have much in common, importance implies a value judgment of the superior worth or influence of something or someone.

a region with no cities of importance

When is moment a more appropriate choice than consequence?

While in some cases nearly identical to consequence, moment implies conspicuous or self-evident consequence.

a decision of great moment

When is it sensible to use significance instead of consequence?

The words significance and consequence are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, significance implies a quality or character that should mark a thing as important but that is not self-evident and may or may not be recognized.

the treaty's significance

In what contexts can weight take the place of consequence?

The words weight and consequence can be used in similar contexts, but weight implies a judgment of the immediate relative importance of something.

the argument carried no weight with the judge

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of consequence But for all the advantages of playing for his father, Deion Sanders, there was a clear downside of facing no consequences or competition. Troy Renck, Denver Post, 22 Aug. 2025 And youngest son Yoshi is impulsive and highly distractible, forever bouncing from one crazy scheme to the next without considering the consequences. Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 22 Aug. 2025 The consequences are easy to spot: • Technology is being deployed faster than teams can adapt. Erik Greenstein, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025 These consequences, Singer believes, include deterring certain organizations and future city councils from wanting to do business with one another. Abigail Hasebroock, Sun Sentinel, 11 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for consequence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for consequence
Noun
  • Padres relievers had the better game, but the Kershaw-Vásquez result was a two-run deficit.
    Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Aug. 2025
  • The result was a fun cameo arc that ends on the image of Scorsese breaking down in tears after Matt shelves the iconic director’s dream project to save his own job — a turn that earned Scorsese his first acting nomination.
    Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 16 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Your involvement signals importance and helps drive adoption.
    Kelly Starman, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2025
  • Upon accepting that award, Dobson stressed the importance of voters passing conservative ideology to the next generation, according to the Christian Post.
    Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 21 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • And still, most new brands enter with a kind of hopeful arrogance, as if a good idea and some nice branding are enough to push past gravity.
    Joel Goldstein, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
  • There’s a certain kind of arrogance that doesn’t yell or pound its chest.
    Stephanie Dillon, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Neural latency, signal noise, and the scalability of neuron training also present hurdles for real-time AI inference.
    IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 9 Aug. 2025
  • That gap has created growing interest in a more accessible approach: AI inference.
    Andre Reitenbach, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • The attorney said that Ragan is relieved with the outcome of the case and wants to put the incident behind him.
    Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 26 Aug. 2025
  • All of this is a strong echo of the rise of social-media giants, digital empires that have influenced the outcomes of elections and stoked some of the worst human impulses imaginable.
    Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 25 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • That’s pretty much what breaking is, in terms of the dance and the historical significance of this dance.
    Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Aug. 2025
  • Still, the significance of overcoming Senegal cannot be overstated.
    Sindiswa Mabunda, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Like so many peddling some version of righteous superiority.
    Jody Mamone, Hartford Courant, 15 Aug. 2025
  • Perhaps Robins should take a step back, let go of her sense of superiority, and try to understand that people are leaving the Democratic Party because they are actually informed.
    DP Opinion, Denver Post, 14 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Part of that is due to the increase in the standard deduction for those age 65 and older from 2025 through 2028.
    Medora Lee, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2025
  • So the taxpayers in CFM lost their deduction, but what about penalties?
    Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Consequence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/consequence. Accessed 29 Aug. 2025.

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