Synonyms of devour

devour

verb

di-ˈvau̇(-ə)r 

1

as in to consume

to destroy all trace of

a series of devastating storms devoured the beach on the south side of the island

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

2

as in to spend

to make complete use of

a catastrophic medical event that devoured their savings

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

3

as in to inhale

to swallow or eat greedily

the starving villagers simply devoured the relief food

Synonyms & Similar Words

• inhale
• gulp
• cram
• scoff
• gobble
• wolf
• scarf
• gorge
• glut
• raven
• slop
• gormandize
• ingurgitate
• bolt
• overeat
• swill
• pig out

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• pick
• nibble
• peck

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of devour

Likewise in southern France, where a wildfire outside the city of Bordeaux has devoured tens of thousands of hectares and prompted authorities to evacuate hundreds of thousands of residents and summer tourists. — Gerry Hadden, Christian Science Monitor, 27 July 2026

Polyphemus The most famous of the Cyclops, Polyphemus traps Odysseus and his crew in his cave before devouring several of the men. — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 26 July 2026

New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Missouri were recently devoured into a national fund. — Brett Owens, Forbes.com, 23 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