Synonym Chooser

How is the word consign distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of consign are commit, confide, entrust, and relegate. While all these words mean "to assign to a person or place for a definite purpose," consign suggests removing from one's control with formality or finality.

consigned the damaging notes to the fire

When is it sensible to use commit instead of consign?

While the synonyms commit and consign are close in meaning, commit may express the general idea of delivering into another's charge or the special sense of transferring to a superior power or to a special place of custody.

committed the felon to prison

When could confide be used to replace consign?

While in some cases nearly identical to consign, confide implies entrusting with great assurance or reliance.

confided complete control of my affairs to my attorney

In what contexts can entrust take the place of consign?

The words entrust and consign are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, entrust implies committing with trust and confidence.

the president is entrusted with broad powers

When would relegate be a good substitute for consign?

The synonyms relegate and consign are sometimes interchangeable, but relegate implies a consigning to a particular class or sphere often with a suggestion of getting rid of.

relegated to an obscure position in the company

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 consign Otherwise, these future soldiers are consigned to another week working off the pounds. Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2025 But a healthy, wholesome chat turns into something else when their tipsy stroll leads them to the home of Ed Little, the man with the power to consign Charlie’s failure to obscurity. Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2025 Apart from long term archiving applications, hard drives are largely consigned to the past. Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025 Reddit/u/Frasnet Slinky could so easily have fallen between the cracks and ended up being consigned to a future stuck waiting in the shelter for a family that never comes. Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for consign
Recent Examples of Synonyms for consign
Verb
  • Nearly nine years after sending that first cold email, the trio sold a majority stake of Lemon Pepper Holdings (Wingtop UK’s parent company) to Californian private equity firm Sixth Street just before the New Year.
    Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 12 Oct. 2025
  • On May 14, 2024, Gatlin sent a personal email to 100 Black Men of America regarding its annual conference the following month in Atlanta.
    Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 12 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • In analyzing dozens of hours of audio and video footage of public and private speaking events for McMahon’s appointees, as well as their writings, ProPublica found that a recurring theme is the desire to enable more families to leave public schools.
    Megan O’Matz, ProPublica, 8 Oct. 2025
  • Varying injuries suffered by Richard Fitts, Hunter Dobbins, Kutter Crawford and Tanner Houck leave several starters in flux entering the offseason, while rookies Connelly Early and Payton Tolle pitched well at the end of the season.
    Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • With Trocheck serving as an alternate captain under Miller, who joined the Rangers in a January trade with the Canucks, the 32-year-old centers have been handed the leadership reins for a team that is coming off a calamitous 2024-25 season.
    Vincent Z. Mercogliano, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
  • In traditional animation, a director crafts a story at storyboard phase trying to craft their story then hands it over to animation artists.
    John Hopewell, Variety, 11 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Using tongs, transfer chicken to serving platter and tent with aluminum foil.
    CAROLE KOTKIN, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2025
  • There is a medium security facility right next to the lower security venue that Combs wants to be transferred to.
    Dominic Patten, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • At AbbVie, 92% of employees give extra effort at work compared to just 59% of employees at a typical European workplace.
    Jessica Coacci, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2025
  • Processing extras’ job bookings has helped give Everyset a window in to where work is now, as Hollywood grapples with major studios cutting the number of annual big theatrical bets and shortening TV episode orders from the Peak TV days of just a few years ago.
    Erik Hayden, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Have the latest Reality Checks delivered to your inbox with our free newsletter.
    Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 13 Oct. 2025
  • In March 2025, released hostages delivered a sign of life from him to his family.
    Itay Stern, NPR, 13 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Liberation lies in relinquishing projection, in surrendering the desire for children to mirror our priorities and accomplishments.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Oct. 2025
  • For decades after that, most parents who relinquished infants for adoption did not expect to see or hear from those children again.
    Nicole Chung, The Atlantic, 2 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Instead, the mark of leadership will be managing agile teams of human and AI collaborators—delegating, coordinating, and integrating outputs to achieve greater results than either type of contributor could alone.
    Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2025
  • For a first-time head coach who is also calling the plays, delegating responsibilities is a key factor in having success.
    Jon Machota, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Consign.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/consign. Accessed 13 Oct. 2025.

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