The economic strength of a country lies not alone in its ability to produce, but also in its capacity to consume.
Source: tatoeba (27770)
Consume
/kənˈsum/
Synonyms for "consume" (338 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (68)
Strong matches (101)
Noun(20 words)
depreciatedepredatedesolatedespoildestroydevastatedevotedevourdie awaydigestdiminishdisintegratedisjoindisorganizedispatchdisposedispose ofdissipatedissolvedive
Show 42 more words
do indowndraindrain of resourcesdribble awaydrink updriveldropdrop offdry updwindleeateat upebbemacerateemaciateemployengorgeengrosserodeexhaustexpendfallfall awayfall offfall to piecesfeed onfinishfinish offfissionfool awayfritterfritter awayget away withget downgive over togive tognawgo up in smokegobblegobble upgorge
Verb(16 words)
Adjective(3 words)
Related words (169)
Verb(34 words)
gulpgulp downgutgut with fireguzzlehavocimpoverishincendiarizeincinerateingestinhalekilllanguishlavishlay in ruinslay wastelessenlet uplosemacerate
Show 84 more words
mealmelt awaymoldermonopolizeobsessoccupyovercomeoverwhelmparchpasspine awayplummetplungepolishpolish offpossesspreoccupypreshrinkpreypunishput awayput downput inravagerazereducereduce to ashesruinruinaterun lowrun to seedrun to wastesagsanforizesearsew upshiftshipwreckshrinkshrivelsinkspendspillsplitsquandersubsidesuck drysurroundswallowswallow upswilltackletail offtake downtake inthinthrow awaythrow into disordertotaltouchtuck inunleash destructionunleash the hurricaneupheaveuse upvandalizevaporizewanewastewaste awaywearwear awaywear outweazenwhilewhile awaywilewitherwither awaywizenwolfwrackwreak havocwreck
Noun(28 words)
Adjective(3 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: deplete, devour, eat, expend, ingest.
- Sentence evidence is available for consume, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "consume".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "consume"
Keep "consume" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "consume" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "consume", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "consume" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
17 entriesShowing 16 of 17 words.
More specific
4 entriesCollocations
6 entriesInflections
3 entriesDerivations
3 entriesAntonyms
1 entriesSample sentences
23 total sentences available.
Zeal for your house will consume me.
Source: tatoeba (70794)
Tropical rainforests produce oxygen and consume carbon dioxide.
Source: tatoeba (282138)
At present "consume all consumable resources" is assigned as the operational meaning of TETRA.
Source: tatoeba (327528)
Showing 4 of 23 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "consume"?
Closest matches include deplete, devour, eat, expend, ingest.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "consume"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.