consistent
adjective
con·sis·tent
kən-ˈsi-stənt 
1
a
: marked by harmony, regularity, or steady continuity : free from variation or contradiction
a consistent style in painting
b
: marked by agreement : compatible
—usually used with with
statements not consistent with the truth
c
: showing steady conformity to character, profession, belief, or custom
a consistent patriot
2
: tending to be arbitrarily close to the true value of the parameter estimated as the sample becomes large
a consistent statistical estimator
3
archaic
: possessing firmness or coherence
Examples of consistent in a Sentence
… the sixty-five-year-old filmmaker continues to practice his craft with consistent artistic aplomb.
—
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone, 30 Aug. 2001
I am not consistent about giving vibrancy and other kinds of input to a relationship. … There are periods when I am the most attentive and thoughtful lover in the world, and periods, too, when I am just unavailable.
—Toni Cade Bambara, "A Conversation with Claudia Tate,"
in The Story and Its Writer, edited by Ann Charters, 1987
One of the strengths of Blake's letters is their consistent readability …
—William Styron, This Quiet Dust and Other Writings, (1953) 1982
The rhythm of the gesture never varied. The paper flew in identically the same arc at each doorway, landed in identically the same spot. It was impossible for anybody to throw with such consistent perfection.
—Madeleine L'Engle, A Wrinkle in Time, (1962) 1976
He is a consistent supporter of the museum.
We need to be more consistent in handling this problem.
Customers expect that the quality of service they receive will be consistent.
The pain has been consistent.
Your grades have shown consistent improvement this school year.
Their descriptions of the accident were consistent.
The decision was consistent with the company's policy.
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone, 30 Aug. 2001
I am not consistent about giving vibrancy and other kinds of input to a relationship. … There are periods when I am the most attentive and thoughtful lover in the world, and periods, too, when I am just unavailable.
—Toni Cade Bambara, "A Conversation with Claudia Tate,"
in The Story and Its Writer, edited by Ann Charters, 1987
One of the strengths of Blake's letters is their consistent readability …
—William Styron, This Quiet Dust and Other Writings, (1953) 1982
The rhythm of the gesture never varied. The paper flew in identically the same arc at each doorway, landed in identically the same spot. It was impossible for anybody to throw with such consistent perfection.
—Madeleine L'Engle, A Wrinkle in Time, (1962) 1976
He is a consistent supporter of the museum.
We need to be more consistent in handling this problem.
Customers expect that the quality of service they receive will be consistent.
The pain has been consistent.
Your grades have shown consistent improvement this school year.
Their descriptions of the accident were consistent.
The decision was consistent with the company's policy.
Recent Examples on the Web
Tesla’s first quarter earnings decline is consistent with the possibility that the company is losing its competitive advantage.
—Hersh Shefrin, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
The defense says the injuries O'Keefe suffered were more consistent with a dog attack or beating inside the home.
—Ross Rosenfeld, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Apr. 2025
Carozza said Meta has continued to send a steady stream of new cases to the Oversight Board since January, consistent with volumes over the past four years, and to follow up on its recommendations.
—Katie Paul and Echo Wang, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2025
Many jurisdictions without bans specifically permit students to participate in sports consistent with their gender identity, including California.
—Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for consistent
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Hersh Shefrin, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
The defense says the injuries O'Keefe suffered were more consistent with a dog attack or beating inside the home.
—Ross Rosenfeld, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Apr. 2025
Carozza said Meta has continued to send a steady stream of new cases to the Oversight Board since January, consistent with volumes over the past four years, and to follow up on its recommendations.
—Katie Paul and Echo Wang, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2025
Many jurisdictions without bans specifically permit students to participate in sports consistent with their gender identity, including California.
—Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for consistent
Cite this Entry
“Consistent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/consistent. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
consistent
adjective
con·sis·tent
kən-ˈsis-tənt
1
: being in agreement or harmony
actions consistent with our policy
2
: being unchanging in behavior or beliefs
a consistent supporter
consistently
adverb
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