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

Gripping onto the branch doesn’t consume any additional energy thanks to the special springs built into the fingers. — Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 26 Sep. 2026

Though tempeh is still widely consumed and produced throughout Indonesia, tempeh is also commonly eaten across much of Southeast Asia, South Korea, and China. — Alessandra Signorelli, Vogue, 25 Sep. 2026

Indeed, China’s AI models are not far behind, and China possesses an advantage in a factor vital to AI systems – electric power generation, which AI consumes in large and growing quantities. — Stephen Collins, The Conversation, 25 Sep. 2026

Psychologists estimate that task-switching can consume up to 40% of a person’s productive time. — Petr Marek, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026