consequence

noun

ˈkän(t)-sə-ˌkwen(t)s How to pronounce consequence (audio)
Definition of consequencenext
1
as in result
a condition or occurrence traceable to a cause the flood was an inevitable consequence of the prolonged, heavy rains

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in importance
the quality or state of being important a mistake that was of no great consequence

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in arrogance
an exaggerated sense of one's importance that shows itself in the making of excessive or unjustified claims a junior executive who strutted around the office with all of the consequence of a peacock in pinstripes

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in inference
an opinion arrived at through a process of reasoning I am able to deduce several consequences from those premises

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

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 consequence But for most people, the worst consequence is a passive-aggressive reminder to follow all crew instructions. —Boutayna Chokrane, Wired News, 12 Apr. 2025 What are the legal consequences of trespassing in Texas? —Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Apr. 2025 This is just the world that these characters exist in, and there are going to be consequences for a lot of actions. —Michaela Zee, Variety, 11 Apr. 2025 The rule doesn't lay out what the consequences are for teachers and other staff members who don't comply. —Sabine Martin, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for consequence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for consequence
  1. result
  2. importance
  3. arrogance
  4. inference
  5. outcome
  6. significance
  7. superiority
  8. deduction
Noun
  • Pitching was considered more of a question mark going into this season with injuries to Frankie Montas and Sean Manaea along with the losses of Luis Severino and Jose Quintana in free agency, but the results are a good development.
    — Larry Fleisher, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
  • The election results must be certified by May 8, though election officials say they could be certified earlier.
    — Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2025
Definition of result
Noun
  • Prosecutors have stressed the importance of Mortensen’s testimony as the only living person to see the intruder.
    — Jean Casarez, CNN Money, 9 Apr. 2025
  • The future is incredibly inspiring as the brand continues to create awareness around the importance of fitness, movement and wellness.
    — Amy Shoenthal, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of importance
Noun
  • Most are due to unnecessary escalation, creating disengagement, authoritative behaviors, arrogance and ego.
    — Joao Mendes-Roter, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025
  • Musk’s casual Friday attire just shows his arrogance and disrespect for American government.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 19 Mar. 2025
Definition of arrogance
Noun
  • Cost savings — Edge AI reduces costs for cloud inference and network bandwidth.
    — Bill Curtis, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
  • The remaining 60 percent is inference, where power consumption figures are less spectacular but add up over time.
    — Ars Technica, Ars Technica, 24 Mar. 2025
Definition of inference
Noun
  • Regardless of whether Tennessee looks back on this as a smart decision—on and off the field—in the future, one thing is for sure: the outcome of this situation will have a profound impact on contractual relationships between athletes and programs going forward.
    — Kristi Dosh, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
  • The outcomes of these talks could alter American access to Japan's lucrative auto and electronics markets, and potentially affect agricultural exports, too.
    — Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Apr. 2025
Definition of outcome
Noun
  • The Levi Strauss Museum takes visitors through Strauss’ journey, from his birth to his immigration to the U.S. Floors are dedicated to the history of jeans, featuring rare piece, and highlight the garment’s socio-cultural significance.
    — Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Oklahoma City secured the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference late last month, then set its eyes on remaining healthy, building chemistry and potentially earning the best record in the NBA, which has potential significance if the Thunder makes it to the NBA Finals.
    — Nick Crain, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
Definition of significance
Noun
  • The hypocrisies of what might be called humanity’s delusions of superiority suggest the need for deeper questioning.
    — Billy J. Stratton, The Conversation, 7 Apr. 2025
  • His superiority was self-evident, like the rays of the sun.
    — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 2 Apr. 2025
Definition of superiority
Noun
  • The New York Times reported that since 2020, Musk has funded the charity with billions of dollars of tax-deductible stock donations but that the foundation has not given enough away to technically be eligible for this deduction.
    — Emily Blackwood, People.com, 15 Mar. 2025
  • Medical deduction for long-term care One tax planning opportunity is for retirees expecting long-term care expenses, experts say.
    — Kate Dore, CFP®, EA, CNBC, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of deduction

Phrases Containing consequence

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consent (to)
consequence
consequences
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Cite this Entry

“Consequence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/consequence. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.

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