as in edible
suitable for use as food
crab apples are not actually eating apples
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in consuming
to take in as food
having gone all day without food, we greedily ate the hamburgers
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in eroding
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 dining
to take a meal
where's the best place to eat in this town?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in bothering
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
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 eating
Ryan Gillespie, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 May 2025
Another Internet-famous eating style is the keto diet, with minimal carbohydrates.
—Chantelle Lee, Time, 10 Apr. 2025
Literary Hub, 24 Apr. 2026
The eating club was an early expression of that instinct—a low-stakes, recurring ritual that gave a small group of colleagues a reason to show up for one another every week.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for eating
Adjective
The county’s southern portion of I-Drive, meanwhile, includes more eating and entertainment options, the 400-foot high Orlando Eye Ferris wheel, higher-end hotels, the Orange County Convention Center and SeaWorld’s theme parks.
—Ryan Gillespie, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 May 2025
Another Internet-famous eating style is the keto diet, with minimal carbohydrates.
—Chantelle Lee, Time, 10 Apr. 2025
Verb
After weighing eighty-eight pounds for a year and a half, gained eighty pounds in two months eating health food.
—Literary Hub, 24 Apr. 2026
The eating club was an early expression of that instinct—a low-stakes, recurring ritual that gave a small group of colleagues a reason to show up for one another every week.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for eating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for eating
Adjective
-
In the still-life composition, a cheeky visual lesson on the collision and convergence of cultures, the jar holds flowers, cactus and edible Mexican treats influenced by Chinese and Filipino flavors.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Do not overlook edible flowers, either.—
Nicole Letts,
Southern Living,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
That’s what people are consuming.—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
24 Apr. 2026
-
See what else our critics are consuming this week.—
Kelefa Sanneh,
New Yorker,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Mammoth bluffs followed by last-minute retreats only deepened perceptions of inconsistency, further eroding deterrence.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
-
European carmakers lose premium brand status in China European carmakers are losing their premium brand status in China, as younger consumers opt for cars from domestic brands, further eroding Western firms’ prospects in a cutthroat global market.—
Semafor Events,
semafor.com,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Serve lemonade, sweet tea, or cocktails to guests while dining outdoors.—
Rebecca Jones,
Southern Living,
21 Apr. 2026
-
At Allora, the fine-dining Italian restaurant in East Sacramento, chef Deneb Williams begins his entire process with vegetables.—
Sean Timberlake,
Sacbee.com,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Sit there like nothing is bothering you.—
Chris Spargo,
PEOPLE,
17 Apr. 2026
-
But that doesn’t excuse failing to execute on the ABCs of lobbying — such as not bothering even to show up at a hearing on a policy the mayor considers an urgent priority.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
One such case involved a man in Texas who had the gene associated with Lesch-Nyhan syndrome, a condition that causes severe intellectual disability and self-harm—chewing one’s fingers and lips, head-bashing, eye-poking.—
Jerome Groopman,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Then, brush the inside surface and the chewing surface of your teeth.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Trotter said his visits to foie gras farms convinced him that the force-feeding process causes the birds to suffer.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Meanwhile, a massive airlift nearing the scale of that during the buildup to first strike Iran has gained steam, feeding into speculation that Trump could be preparing a resumption of the war.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Although pest control companies offer lethal solutions such as carpenter bee traps or chemical treatments, the best way to keep carpenter bees from bugging you is using stained, sealed, varnished or treated wood in building projects.—
Sarah Linn
April 24,
Sacbee.com,
24 Apr. 2026
-
So, all the things people were yelling about with Southwest weren’t bugging me.—
Lisa Gutierrez,
Kansas City Star,
21 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Eating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/eating. Accessed 29 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
