CONSUME Synonyms: 141 Similar and Opposite Words

consume

verb

kən-ˈsüm

Definition of consume

as in to devour

to destroy all trace of massive fires had consumed hundreds of square miles of forest

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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 Black grief is not a spectacle for the news cycle to consume and move past. — Melissa S. Johnson, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 July 2026 Now, there exists a push to develop facilities that regularly consume up to twenty times their existing power capacity, intensifying corporate demand and the need for industrial support. — Paxton Honerkamp, CNBC, 26 July 2026 The egg hatches into a legless larva that consumes the paralyzed insect. — Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 26 July 2026 Nuclear energy's constant, reliable, low-carbon output is uniquely suited for AI's round-the-clock demands, which are projected to consume vast amounts of electricity. — Ken Silverstein, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for consume

Recent Examples of Synonyms for consume

Verb

That's because the mechanisms by which black holes devour matter to grow and then merge to create even more massive black holes should take at least 1 billion years to achieve supermassive status.

— Robert Lea, Space.com, 19 July 2026
Is there another dish that consumers routinely devour despite scientific research showing each serving takes about 36 minutes off your life, at least according to the University of Michigan?

— Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 19 July 2026

Definition of devour

Verb

Palenske spent 39 years in the Air Force, retiring in 2025 as a brigadier general in Guam.

— Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 26 July 2026
Presidential vacations—or, where the presidents spend summers—are not vacations in the traditional sense of the term, but rather, a physical getaway from the White House in a scenic setting, usually accompanied by their families.

— Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 26 July 2026

Definition of spend

Verb

People enjoy them in countless ways, including being folded into shortcake, mixed into fruit salad, dipped in chocolate, piled on pancakes, stirred into yogurt, blended into smoothies or simply eaten by the handful as a refreshing snack.

— Daryl Austin, USA Today, 26 July 2026
For perspective, third place contestant Mirza Selmic ate 18 corn dogs, and the remaining competitors ate between eight and 13 dogs.

— Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 26 July 2026

Definition of eat

Verb

Floyd is no longer attracted to his wife, has trouble connecting with his teen-age stepson, and owes tens of thousands in taxes—a set of stressors that are ruining his health.

— Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 22 July 2026
That would ruin a good thing, apparently, and Foerster credited Puni for not only playing through a knee injury last fall but overcoming early-career growing pains.

— Cam Inman, Mercury News, 20 July 2026

Definition of ruin

Verb

Leaders who continually forge themselves become harder to exhaust, unsettle, or outmaneuver.

— Julian Hayes II, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
After graduating with a degree in business economics, Pichardo learned that NCAA athletes can compete in a different sport after exhausting their initial four years of eligibility.

— Marisa Ingemi, Mercury News, 27 July 2026

Definition of exhaust

Verb

Four Months Before the Wedding If your primary concern is eradicating sun spots or hyperpigmentation before your wedding—whether that be on your face or body—speak with your dermatologist about the possibility of laser treatments.

— Rio Viera-Newton, Vogue, 23 July 2026
Four centuries later, in the mid-20th century, China’s government similarly encouraged people to eradicate over a billion sparrows to prevent them from depleting grain supplies.

— Elan Abrell, The Conversation, 22 July 2026

Definition of eradicate

Browse Nearby Words

consumable

consume

consumed

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Style

“Consume.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/consume. Accessed 29 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of consume

verb

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