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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 Another potential consequence if the emergency regulations had expired would have been a 10% loss of catch for Massachusetts lobstermen who primarily fish in state and federal waters in the Gulf of Maine, known as Area 1. Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 7 July 2025 The consequences are fatal, and the silence and sigma surrounding it has become part of the problem. Sreedhar Potarazu, Baltimore Sun, 6 July 2025 And while the gas is well known for its short-term risks in occupational settings, less is known about the consequences of long-term exposure. Tammy Murga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 July 2025 But, if team members sense that failure will result in terrible consequences and individual blame, their brains divert energy to being safe rather than being bold. Shani Harmon, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for consequence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for consequence
Noun
  • The result is a versatile cooker for waffles, pancakes, meat, veggies, and kinda whatever.
    Matthew Korfhage, Wired News, 29 June 2025
  • The result is abundant natural light and views of the grounds beyond the home.
    James Alexander, Hartford Courant, 29 June 2025
Noun
  • Indoor facilities have grown in importance as MLS considers aligning its schedule with the biggest global soccer leagues.
    Jason Clinkscales, Sportico.com, 1 July 2025
  • While some fans expressed disappointment for the change, many emphasized the importance of it.
    Caché McClay, USA Today, 1 July 2025
Noun
  • This silliness, the silliness of his arrogance, was actually funny to me.
    Ottessa Moshfegh, New Yorker, 30 June 2025
  • On the dark side, however, Mercury in Leo can spark moments of arrogance and stubbornness.
    Valerie Mesa, People.com, 26 June 2025
Noun
  • This efficiency reduces inference latency by 2.2-2.5x compared to larger models like Alibaba’s Qwen3-A22B, according to posts on X and Tencent’s technical reports.
    Sol Rashidi, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
  • The clear inference is that Nike didn’t want to establish a precedent for other women athletes in its stable.
    Matthew Carey, Deadline, 22 June 2025
Noun
  • That’s a direct hit to educational outcomes and to the state’s long-term financial stability.
    Dr. Ara J. Baghdasarian, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
  • Legal and financial barriers delay needed care, leading to substantially worse health outcomes for our community.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 June 2025
Noun
  • From discussing the cultural significance of luxury timepieces to beautifully showcasing black love, the SUEDE Men’s Experience is delivering authentic moments crafted perfectly for the contemporary man.
    John Lawson, Essence, 7 July 2025
  • The significance of Ventura’s lawsuit will extend far beyond the trial, Burke, the founder of the #MeToo movement, previously told CNN.
    Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 6 July 2025
Noun
  • Yet as more data has emerged demonstrating the safety or even superiority of AI for some tasks, those views are likely changing.
    Jesse Pines, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • Red Bull enjoyed a period of superiority since the inception of the current ground effect era in 2022, thanks to the aerodynamic expertise of the team's former chief technical officer, Adrian Newey.
    Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 June 2025
Noun
  • The Senate version of the bill would also permanently extend and modify the depreciation deduction for businesses.
    Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
  • Other tax cuts, credits and gifts In addition to extending the tax cuts from the 2017 tax bill, the House version would give people who live in high-tax states such as California, New York and New Jersey a bigger income tax deduction for state and local taxes, known as SALT.
    Jim Sergent, USA Today, 26 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Consequence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/consequence. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.

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