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 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 Dufrene said that donating or consigning clothing also allows people to dispose of their belongings without feeling like the clothes are going to waste. Molly Gregory, The Courier-Journal, 30 July 2025 Production of the street-legal iteration yielded 1,350 examples, and the one set to cross the auction block through Broad Arrow—consigned by the original owner—was specified for Italy and is pristine, with only 33 miles on it (at the time of cataloging). Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 26 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for consign
Recent Examples of Synonyms for consign
Verb
  • Records further indicate that in 2022 and 2023, the foundation sent $2 million to the Tides Foundation.
    Christine Valora, The Washington Examiner, 28 Sep. 2025
  • After the busts, agents sent the drugs to the lab for testing.
    Asher Redd, FOXNews.com, 27 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Bailey argued that the district’s dispute with local police departments over its requirement that officers participate in diversity training — an impasse that resulted in some departments leaving schools without resource officers — had left students vulnerable.
    Jeremy Kohler, ProPublica, 24 Sep. 2025
  • The best clarifying shampoo can completely transform a lackluster shower routine, deep cleansing hair, exfoliating the scalp, and banishing excess oils and product buildup that leave strands flat, dull, or frizz-prone.
    Jenny Berg, Vogue, 24 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • But around five years ago, life handed him a raw deal.
    Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 27 Sep. 2025
  • Thirty years after handing Florida State’s dynasty its first ACC defeat, was Virginia going to incite another Scott Stadium party?
    David Teel, Miami Herald, 27 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • People point to the rising costs of wages and transfer fees as a reason to increase loss limits, but those continue to rise because teams continue to choose to spend their money in that way.
    Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025
  • He was subsequently transferred to the Adelanto facility on August 22.
    Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Winged munition autonomously detects moving targets Raytheon also highlighted that the StormBreaker smart weapon gives operators an upper hand in combat by hitting moving targets in some of the worst weather conditions.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 25 Sep. 2025
  • Officials did not give any details on the man’s medical condition.
    ABC News, ABC News, 25 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • But at the end of each day, a mysterious boy (Eric Williams) delivers the message that Godot isn’t coming after all and will instead arrive tomorrow.
    Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 29 Sep. 2025
  • The 25-year-old attorney wins the $750,000 grand prize after delivering her emphatic closing argument.
    Christopher Kuhagen, jsonline.com, 28 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • This act was the NCAA requirement the players relinquished control over their publicity rights as a condition of eligibility.
    Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 29 Sep. 2025
  • Rahm holed the shot with precious little green to work with to take a lead in the match that the Spaniard and his cherished partner, Tyrrell Hatton, never relinquished.
    Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 28 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Manufacturers are typically delegated permission to perform some functions on behalf of the FAA, such as issuing airworthiness and production certifications, but Boeing lost that delegation for the two models.
    Aaron Cooper, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2025
  • New sellers can connect accounts, set preferences, and delegate the routine work.
    Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 23 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Consign.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/consign. Accessed 30 Sep. 2025.

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