Synonyms of consume

consume

verb

kən-ˈsüm 

1

as in to devour

to destroy all trace of

massive fires had consumed hundreds of square miles of forest

Synonyms & Similar Words

• devour
• eat (up)
• ruin
• demolish
• drain
• eradicate
• devastate
• deplete
• wreck
• spend
• extinguish
• expend
• shatter
• exhaust
• use up
• waste
• gut
• obliterate
• exterminate
• desolate
• wipe out
• remove
• annihilate
• smash
• decimate
• tear down
• extirpate
• pulverize
• stamp (out)
• blot out
• raze
• do in
• rub out

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• protect
• save
• preserve
• build
• conserve
• raise
• construct
• put up
• erect

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

• spend
• drain
• exhaust
• absorb
• burn
• eat
• reduce
• use
• deplete
• devour
• expend
• use up
• play out
• draw down
• run out of
• decrease
• waste
• empty
• diminish
• weaken
• downsize
• dwindle
• lessen
• clean (out)
• undermine
• impoverish
• abate
• guzzle
• bankrupt
• debilitate
• cripple
• sap
• disable
• squander
• dry up
• dissipate
• blow
• enfeeble
• lower
• throw away
• lavish
• de-escalate
• run through
• misspend
• fritter (away)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• replace
• increase
• renew
• enforce
• augment
• enlarge
• reinforce
• strengthen
• restore
• preserve
• save
• rebuild
• conserve
• repair
• revive
• bolster
• fortify

3

as in to eat

to take in as food

hungry enough to consume most of the pie

Synonyms & Similar Words

• eat
• devour
• ingest
• chew
• partake (of)
• lick
• swallow
• put away
• tuck (away or in)
• digest
• put down
• taste
• mouth (down)
• pick (at)
• relish
• savor
• gulp
• scoff
• wolf
• gobble (up or down)
• dine
• swill
• nibble (on)
• gnaw (at or on)
• munch
• chow (down on)
• breakfast
• gorge
• slop
• gum
• snack
• feast
• glut (on)
• down
• fare
• regale
• snarf (down)
• sup
• lap
• lunch
• banquet
• polish off
• dispatch
• bolt
• pig out
• gormandize
• nurse
• nosh

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of consume

Large data centers can consume up to 5 million gallons per day; a recent study modelling water use in African data centers found that ChatGPT-4 used up to 60 liters of water — or a standard washing machine cycle — to produce a 10-page paper. — Paige Bruton, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2026

The trio is helping to narrow the gap between the rate at which Latinos consume horror and the paltry representation that the demographic has historically had in the film genre. — Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026

How much of her education was consumed by pursuing the complaint? — Jennifer Obel, Chicago Tribune, 2 Oct. 2026

When routine coordination no longer consumes most of their attention, one strong manager can support a much larger operation. — Michael Goshka, Forbes.com, 2 Oct. 2026