1
: extremely skilled and accomplished
a consummate liar
a consummate professional
2
: of the highest degree
consummate skill
consummate cruelty
3
: complete in every detail : perfect
a consummate model of a clipper ship
consummately adverb
consummated; consummating

transitive verb

1
: to make (marital union) complete by sexual intercourse
consummate a marriage
2
a
: finish, complete
consummate a business deal
b
: to make perfect
c
: achieve
… his desire of consummating victory and revenge made him cautious … Edward Bulwer-Lytton

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Are You Using consummate Correctly?

Consummate, which derives from the Latin verb consummare (meaning "to sum up" or "to finish"), has been used as an adjective in English since the 15th century. Some usage commentators feel the word is overused and others think it should be limited to the "perfect" sense (as in "a consummate little model of a clipper ship"), but neither of those positions is more than an opinion. All of the senses of the word are well-established and have served careful writers well for many, many years.

Examples of consummate in a Sentence

Adjective … Berg, the consummate schmoozer, was the perfect spy for the job. Dick Teresi, New York Times Book Review, 24 July 1994
To thrive in science, you must be both a consummate collaborator and a relentless competitor. Natalie Angier, New York Times Book Review, 6 Nov. 1988
The rest of his life (he lived for a few more years) was one great consummate silence. R. K. Narayan, "Under the Banyan Tree," in The Story and Its Writer, edited by Ann Charters1987
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Adjective
He is known at the Capitol as a consummate political insider who serves as chief of staff for the Senate Democrats and a close ally of Senate President Pro Tem Martin Looney of New Haven. Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 9 Feb. 2023 Nova — who died at 40, in 1975, from bone cancer — was a consummate rule breaker. Allyson McCabe, New York Times, 20 Jan. 2023
Verb
The decision regarding the suit appears to hinge on the thinking of Shari Redstone, the controlling shareholder of Paramount Global who is eager to see the Skydance deal consummated. Brian Steinberg, Variety, 4 Feb. 2025 More news: Cubs to Acquire Two-Time All-Star Closer After Failing to Sign Tanner Scott: Report Now, the only potential obstacle to the trade being consummated is Pressly himself. Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 24 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for consummate 

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Verb

Middle English consummat fulfilled, from Latin consummatus, past participle of consummare to sum up, finish, from com- + summa sum

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Verb

circa 1525, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of consummate was in the 15th century

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Dictionary Entries Near consummate

Cite this Entry

“Consummate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/consummate. Accessed 20 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

: of the highest degree, quality, or skill
a consummate politician
consummately adverb

consummate

2 of 2 verb
consummated; consummating
: to make perfect or complete
consummation
ˌkän(t)-sə-ˈmā-shən
noun

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