1
as in resultant
coming as a result
his high-fat diet and the consequential weight gain
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in important
having great meaning or lasting effect
the American Civil War is often regarded as the nation's most consequential event since its founding
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in smug
having too high an opinion of oneself
for such a consequential businessman, he's head of a rather small company
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 consequential
That makes learning how to improve indoor air quality one of the most consequential things parents can do this year, especially as wildfire smoke, gas appliances and aging housing stock push pollution levels indoors higher than many outdoor readings.
—
Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 19 May 2026
One that will be larger, faster, and more consequential than what came before.
—Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 19 May 2026
Sunday’s marathon race at Charlotte will be more consequential as a 2026 title predictor.
—ABC News, 18 May 2026
The Iran war’s most consequential casualty may not be in Tehran.
—Farah N. Jan, The Conversation, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for consequential
Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 19 May 2026
One that will be larger, faster, and more consequential than what came before.
—Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 19 May 2026
Sunday’s marathon race at Charlotte will be more consequential as a 2026 title predictor.
—ABC News, 18 May 2026
The Iran war’s most consequential casualty may not be in Tehran.
—Farah N. Jan, The Conversation, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for consequential
Recent Examples of Synonyms for consequential
Adjective
-
This pace of growth means that every new generation of AI comes with an order-of-magnitude increase in energy, water demand and the resultant CO2 impact.—
Dianne Plummer,
Forbes.com,
28 Aug. 2025
-
The resultant pollution from the Canadian blazes spread across Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio and even reached as far as Pennsylvania, Oklahoma and Mississippi, according to the report.—
Sharon Udasin,
The Hill,
28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The promises made and attacks scattered like buckshot on the San Francisco soundstage all seem much less important than the numbers that show up in opinion polls between now and Election Day.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2026
-
This is especially important for low-income communities and others who rely heavily on the shot for contraception.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
But the series’ central character, played by Rachel Weisz, has enough nervous, itchy, manic energy to make the show’s narrative structure feel purposely unstable rather than safely smug.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
4 May 2026
-
McDaniels, who cut through the Nuggets’ egos early in the series with fearless words and a smug grin, got the last laugh.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
The Iran war and the consequent global surge in energy prices is having a ripple effect on the war in Ukraine.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The consequent disruptions ground some airports to a near-halt, while others contended with security lines that snaked out into parking lots and lasted upward of four hours.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Indeed, the tapping of an individual button is perhaps the least significant event on the planet, shifting nothing apart from the dust beneath it.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 May 2026
-
Although prices have since pulled back somewhat, prices in Europe, the United States, and Singapore remain well above pre-conflict levels, and cost pressures on the aviation industry remain significant.—
,
CNBC,
18 May 2026
Adjective
-
Subsequent photos showed the proud parents smiling in the audience as their daughter walked across the stage to collect her degree, Zahra alongside her friends in their graduation regalia and a glimpse at a family celebration.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
19 May 2026
-
Paul McCartney is proud of the impact his music has on people.—
Christina Dugan Ramirez,
FOXNews.com,
18 May 2026
Adjective
-
The Jaguars will play at Camping World Stadium in Orlando in 2027 while their home field, EverBank Stadium, undergoes major renovations.—
Scott Turick,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 May 2026
-
James Ward During the debate, Republican Steve Hilton vowed to restart offshore oil drilling in California — a proposal that conflicts with decades of state policy shaped by major oil spills and strict coastal protections.—
James Ward,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
The tricky part of being a celebrity like Firstman on the internet is that some people can conflate your comedic persona (which is maybe a little arrogant, a little colorful) with your real identity.—
Rebecca Ford,
Vanity Fair,
14 May 2026
-
Hunter is stubborn, arrogant and gifted enough to play for the Briar hockey team, yet refuses to for reasons the show has yet to reveal.—
Kennedy French,
Variety,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Consequential.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/consequential. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
