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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 Yes, but there are consequences for tapping in too early. Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025 Frank longs for the days when a badge allowed a middle-aged white man to play god; the days when cops didn’t have to pretend like there were consequences for shooting people, and there wasn’t any bodycam footage of him using his gun to cut the bathroom line at a coffee shop. David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 30 July 2025 The consequences of overheating can be dramatic: an overstrained heart, kidney issues, brain damage and even death are possible when internal temperatures climb too high for too long. Alejandra Borunda, NPR, 30 July 2025 But sometimes the consequences can be even worse, as the police now warn. Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 19 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for consequence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for consequence
Noun
  • Among the era’s ironies is that the winning number in one gambling racket was, for a time, produced honestly by the results of another.
    Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
  • The result is a scholar trained to solve problems no one has solved before.
    Leadership Brainery, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • During his memorable Hall of Fame speech, Sandberg preached the importance of respect — for teammates, coaches and the game — and doing the little things right.
    Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 29 July 2025
  • The data underscores the importance of not leaving algorithmic humor unchecked, Saumure said.
    Jyoti Madhusoodanan, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 July 2025
Noun
  • The sweeping track was inspired in part by Rebecca Solnit’s 2014 collection Men Explain Things to Me, with the titular essay providing a scathing look at male arrogance and how conversations between men and women go awry.
    Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 16 July 2025
  • But nothing in his tenure captures all at once the sense of arrogance, tone-deafness to the concerns of Floridians and obsession with keeping secrets.
    Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 June 2025
Noun
  • When layering LLMs on top of audit data, insist on private inference.
    Priya Mohan, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025
  • While no one has figured out how to make money from generative artificial intelligence, that hasn't stopped Google DeepMind from pushing the boundaries of what's possible with a big pile of inference.
    Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 5 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • The Mets lead the Phillies by a half-game in the NL East; the outcome of that race will establish the difficulty of October’s path for New York.
    Tim Britton, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2025
  • On a base level, the closure of the CPB, as an outcome of Congress clawing back its funding, weakens public media on a systemic level.
    Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 1 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • For Arsenal supporters, the jersey has a special significance — their new centre-forward will wear the same number as the club’s record goalscorer, Thierry Henry.
    James McNicholas, New York Times, 30 July 2025
  • But his sweet gesture fell flat when Brie failed to grasp the significance of the mask.
    Erin Clack, People.com, 30 July 2025
Noun
  • Being the world's most valuable company is not a sign of permanent superiority.
    Nur Hikmah Md Ali, CNBC, 10 July 2025
  • What To Know According to a French intelligence report shared with the Associated Press, Chinese diplomats worked to publicize the downing of Rafale jets during the conflict while promoting the superiority of Chinese fighter aircraft.
    Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 July 2025
Noun
  • This high-profile tax benefit for reducing taxable income is available for those who itemize deductions on their federal tax returns instead of using the standard deduction.
    Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2025
  • Patreon, another competitor to Passes, takes 8 to 12 percent as well as payout fees, with most creators reporting deductions of 15 to 20 percent.
    Katherine Fung, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Consequence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/consequence. Accessed 8 Aug. 2025.

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