1
2
3
4

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun consequence differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of consequence are importance, moment, significance, and weight. While all these words mean "a quality or aspect having great worth or significance," consequence generally implies importance because of probable or possible effects.

the style you choose is of little consequence

When might importance be a better fit than consequence?

Although the words importance and consequence have much in common, importance implies a value judgment of the superior worth or influence of something or someone.

a region with no cities of importance

When is moment a more appropriate choice than consequence?

While in some cases nearly identical to consequence, moment implies conspicuous or self-evident consequence.

a decision of great moment

When is it sensible to use significance instead of consequence?

The words significance and consequence are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, significance implies a quality or character that should mark a thing as important but that is not self-evident and may or may not be recognized.

the treaty's significance

In what contexts can weight take the place of consequence?

The words weight and consequence can be used in similar contexts, but weight implies a judgment of the immediate relative importance of something.

the argument carried no weight with the judge

Examples 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 consequence During public comment at Wednesday night’s meeting, resident Vera Conley raised concerns about the superintendent and the district’s credit card use, questioning whether spending adhered to proper budgeting guidelines and what consequences would follow any misuse. Ryan MacAsero, The Mercury News, 18 Jan. 2025 Most in the crowd opposed the idea of a split because of the consequences for their children’s education and property values. Cody Copeland, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Jan. 2025 If Congress fails to act, the consequences could be severe. Nolan Kohorst, Boston Herald, 18 Jan. 2025 Pearl Milling Original Pancake & Waffle Mix has been recalled in 11 states after a mistake that could have deadly consequences. David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 18 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for consequence 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for consequence
Noun
  • The use of military flights is the result of an executive order Trump signed earlier this week.
    Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 24 Jan. 2025
  • The result was a high-wire act that included noticeable wobbles in Stravinsky’s thorny Concerto for Piano and Wind Instruments and Janacek’s eccentric Capriccio for Piano Left-Hand.
    Corinna da Fonseca-Wollheim, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • What to Know During the visit, Kate served a breakfast of cereal and fruit to the kids and was told by staff about the importance of a nutritious diet.
    Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2025
  • The Cabinet was meeting well past the beginning of the Jewish Sabbath, a rare occurrence and a reflection of the moment’s importance.
    Samy Magdy, Chicago Tribune, 17 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Trump’s Comments About The Panama Canal Trump remarked that the United States should regain control of the Panama Canal, a statement that evoked arrogance and colonialism in the past.
    Ken Silverstein, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025
  • The historical 'attitude' (arrogance) in his acting has fueled MAGA, and his endorsements of Trump are undeniably overbearing and irrational.
    Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 8 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • For certain applications and prompts, increasing how long inference takes simply doesn’t make sense, says Dilek Hakkani-Tur, a professor of computer science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
    Lauren Leffer, Scientific American, 23 Jan. 2025
  • This has already triggered an inference price war in China, which will likely spill over to the rest of the world.
    Craig S. Smith, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • This can have a significant impact on the outcome of the case.
    Beth Worthy, Forbes, 21 Jan. 2025
  • That is still the most likely outcome but the waters have been far choppier in the House of Lords than predicted, as several Conservative peers, including West Ham vice-chair Baroness Brady, have filibustered to delay the process and proposed hundreds of amendments to scupper the bill.
    Matt Slater, The Athletic, 21 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • That projection is based on the player’s performance in each metric over the last three seasons (five for goalies), weighted for recency where more recent seasons carry more significance and regressed to the mean.
    Dom Luszczyszyn, The Athletic, 19 Jan. 2025
  • By emphasizing the human element, the leader makes the strategy more accessible and relatable, ensuring the team understands its purpose and significance.
    Paola Cecchi-Dimeglio, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Absolute Dominion takes place In the year 2063 AD, when the world faces catastrophe as zealots and extremists wage a global holy war in the name of spiritual superiority.
    Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 13 Jan. 2025
  • The dominant view in Washington argues for peace through strength, that only clear military superiority can deter China’s ambitions to subsume Taiwan and exert dominance across the Indo-Pacific.
    Brad Dress, The Hill, 7 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Here, clubs can lose up to £39m over a rolling three-year period before being hit with any punishment, which can include possible points deductions.
    Richard Sutcliffe, The Athletic, 22 Jan. 2025
  • Under current law those deductions are now capped at $10,000.
    Stephanie Dhue, CNBC, 21 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near consequence

Cite this Entry

“Consequence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/consequence. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on consequence

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!