consume

verb

kən-ˈsüm How to pronounce consume (audio)
Definition of consumenext
1
as in to devour
to destroy all trace of massive fires had consumed hundreds of square miles of forest

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to spend
to make complete use of the mining company consumed all of the local mineral resources and then moved on

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to eat
to take in as food hungry enough to consume most of the pie

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 consume During this period of my life, one that was entirely consumed by obsessive-compulsive disorder, virtually every e-mail that landed in my inbox had the same effect on me. — Andrew Lipstein, New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2026 The final prediction stage can consume substantial computing power, particularly when the target protein is large. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026 Freire encouraged the two women to consume the drug upon arriving to the residence hall, according to the indictment. — Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 16 Oct. 2026 Nevertheless, the hobby consumes time almost as quickly as the pumpkins consume water. — Cameron Pugh, Christian Science Monitor, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for consume
Recent Examples of Synonyms for consume
  1. devour
  2. spend
  3. eat
  4. ruin
  5. drain
  6. demolish
  7. exhaust
  8. eradicate
Verb
  • All the while, Alabama decided that fans would not be allowed to set up any type of tailgate until after 12 noon local time today in an abundance of caution for the wind and rain that would devour the area.
    — Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2026
  • The zombie is one of the most elastic and grotesque villains in the genre, shifting dramatically from early-Hollywood films built on racial stereotypes to the now-popular vision of a monster that yearns to devour those still living.
    — Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of devour
Verb
  • The frontman said he was humbled by the action and was touched to spend time with members of the Minneapolis community who worked on the front lines during the ICE surge.
    — Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
  • OpenAI, for example, expects to spend more than $25 billion on training alone this year.
    — Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of spend
Verb
  • Employee did not wash hands after handling raw food and changing gloves, before handling ready to eat foods.
    — NWA Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Mick and Kip are out there eating from the same huge bag of chips.
    — George Saunders, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of eat
Verb
  • Burdick seemed to have drawn directly from McCarthy’s experience, the hopelessness of fighting with his father over a world his father had already ruined, the surrender to indulgence and mindless violence because…why not?
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Each room is also outfitted with a Yale smart lock, which means there’s no room for that horrible feeling of losing a room key to ruin your vacation.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of ruin
Verb
  • Be sure to drain the olives, mushrooms, and use a thick pizza sauce to avoid a watery dip.
    — Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Eating triggers saliva production, but a stone can keep the saliva from draining, causing the gland to swell.
    — Angela Haupt, Time, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of drain
Verb
  • The building’s owner previously told The Star the building would not be demolished and that it could be redeveloped.
    — Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 20 Oct. 2026
  • The 18-year-old female elephant got loose from her handler outside her enclosure, then went on the run, demolishing the door of a saloon on North Avenue, smashing in the window of another and walking through the fence around a vacant lot.
    — Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of demolish
Verb
  • So, get ready for mountain vistas and exhausting cycling days to take your breath away and questions about your life choices to swirl around in your head!
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 17 Oct. 2026
  • That pretty much exhausts the points of agreement between the pro- and anti-Proposition 40 camps.
    — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of exhaust
Verb
  • Yet, we’re told by this administration that non-citizen voting is rampant and must be eradicated.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Plans to eradicate the remaining invasive mammals is already underway.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of eradicate

Browse Nearby Words

consumable
consume
consumed
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Consume.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/consume. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

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