1
as in to consume
to take in as food
having gone all day without food, we greedily ate the hamburgers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to erode
to consume or wear away gradually
the pot's protective coating was eaten away by the acid
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to dine
to take a meal
where's the best place to eat in this town?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to bother
to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts
it really eats me the way people go to national parks to enjoy nature—and then leave their litter behind
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of eat
Under a sprawling white tent on Miami Beach, thousands of food lovers gathered Saturday to eat, drink and celebrate in style.
—
Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 21 Feb. 2026
No one wants to eat with a fork that has stuck-on food or a plate that feels greasy to the touch.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 21 Feb. 2026
His father, who, like most of the other Jews in town, owned a store, had the family eat matzos during Passover and take the day off on Yom Kippur, but that was the extent of their observance.
—Nicholas Lemann, New Yorker, 21 Feb. 2026
We weren’t permitted to sit on these divans and chaises, much less eat anywhere near them.
—Josh Miller, Southern Living, 21 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for eat
Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 21 Feb. 2026
No one wants to eat with a fork that has stuck-on food or a plate that feels greasy to the touch.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 21 Feb. 2026
His father, who, like most of the other Jews in town, owned a store, had the family eat matzos during Passover and take the day off on Yom Kippur, but that was the extent of their observance.
—Nicholas Lemann, New Yorker, 21 Feb. 2026
We weren’t permitted to sit on these divans and chaises, much less eat anywhere near them.
—Josh Miller, Southern Living, 21 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for eat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for eat
Verb
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But food science specialists say the coatings are safe to consume and are applied in very small amounts, according to Donald Schwan, department chair, distinguished professor, and extension specialist in food science at Rutgers University.—
Olivia McIntosh,
Martha Stewart,
21 Feb. 2026
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If power is lost for less than two hours, most perishable food should be safe to consume.—
Mike Snider,
USA Today,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Still, critics say the controversy risks distracting from preparations for the Games and eroding public confidence in the organizing committee.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
18 Feb. 2026
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If someone close erodes your self-belief, that’s not a loving situation.—
Magi Helena,
Dallas Morning News,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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To round out the dish, add rotisserie chicken, peas, and herbs for a foolproof one-pot meal that tastes like you’re dining in a restaurant.—
Marianne Williams,
Southern Living,
21 Feb. 2026
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However, children are allowed to dine in the restaurant if a family group is staying at another property on the island.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The man himself might have argued forcefully that the one didn’t prove the other, that many Muslims in his hometown never bothered to circumcise their children.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Feb. 2026
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But only part of that really bothered the Florida Department of Health about Sidney Moritz, once known as Sandy Montano.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The Colgate facility sits on the North Yuba River upstream of Englebright Dam, which feeds the lower Yuba.—
Chaewon Chung,
Sacbee.com,
18 Feb. 2026
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Jamieson expects other Antarctic sharks live at the same depth, feeding on the carcasses of whales, giant squids and other marine creatures that die and sink to the bottom.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Maybe this will be the year when the owner stops being annoyed.—
Mike Lupica,
New York Daily News,
21 Feb. 2026
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In the statement, the zoo said the mother may have thought her baby was annoyed with Punch, which upset her.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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However, there isn't a clear consensus on the absolute best time to snack for blood sugar, energy, and overall health.—
Brittany Lubeck,
Verywell Health,
20 Feb. 2026
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Rosemary makes one of the best companion plants for apple trees because of its strong scent that's unpleasing to critters looking to snack on a juicy red apple.—
Ashlyn Needham,
The Spruce,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Don’t let those small scratches bug you—just use a little Bar Keeper’s Friend to buff them out.—
Quincy Bulin,
Southern Living,
10 Feb. 2026
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Instead, Ladinig says Pierre Haobsh bugged Henry Han's computer with a spyware app called a keylogger.—
Natalie Morales,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Eat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/eat. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.
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