1
as in consumed
to take in as food
having gone all day without food, we greedily ate the hamburgers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in eroded
to consume or wear away gradually
the pot's protective coating was eaten away by the acid
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in dined
to take a meal
where's the best place to eat in this town?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in annoyed
to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts
it really eats me the way people go to national parks to enjoy nature—and then leave their litter behind
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ate
On one day in late December, Eden barely ate all day.
—
Angela Andaloro,
People.com,
5 Aug. 2025
While neither is an effective big league pitcher at this point, those moves ate into the Yankees’ limited rotation depth.
—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
4 Aug. 2025
Some theologians argued that Adam and Eve, as well as all the animals in the Garden of Eden, ate only plants.
—
Livia Gershon,
JSTOR Daily,
4 Aug. 2025
Modest renovations accomplished that goal — the space pulses with history and nostalgia as old photos hint at how, decades ago, neighbors ate and drank shoulder to shoulder here.
—
Kayleigh Ruller,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Apr. 2025
In testing, 75% of users ate a greater variety of plants than before using the app.
—
Nicki Sprinz,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
Pigs and other animals brought to the island also ate dodo eggs.
—
Mike Snider,
USA Today,
8 Apr. 2025
One study found that men who ate whole eggs immediately after resistance exercise experienced greater post-exercise muscle protein synthesis rates than men who consumed egg whites.
—
Jillian Kubala, Rd,
Health,
25 Feb. 2025
The Knicks had a good test in front of them and apparently just ate the Scantron instead of filling it out.
—
Zach Harper,
The Athletic,
24 Feb. 2025
Angela Andaloro,
People.com,
5 Aug. 2025
While neither is an effective big league pitcher at this point, those moves ate into the Yankees’ limited rotation depth.
—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
4 Aug. 2025
Some theologians argued that Adam and Eve, as well as all the animals in the Garden of Eden, ate only plants.
—
Livia Gershon,
JSTOR Daily,
4 Aug. 2025
Modest renovations accomplished that goal — the space pulses with history and nostalgia as old photos hint at how, decades ago, neighbors ate and drank shoulder to shoulder here.
—
Kayleigh Ruller,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Apr. 2025
In testing, 75% of users ate a greater variety of plants than before using the app.
—
Nicki Sprinz,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
Pigs and other animals brought to the island also ate dodo eggs.
—
Mike Snider,
USA Today,
8 Apr. 2025
One study found that men who ate whole eggs immediately after resistance exercise experienced greater post-exercise muscle protein synthesis rates than men who consumed egg whites.
—
Jillian Kubala, Rd,
Health,
25 Feb. 2025
The Knicks had a good test in front of them and apparently just ate the Scantron instead of filling it out.
—
Zach Harper,
The Athletic,
24 Feb. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ate
Verb
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Physicians report spending only 27 hours per week on direct patient care out of a nearly 58-hour work week, with the remainder consumed by documentation, order entry and administrative tasks.
-
By Monday evening, the wildfires had converged into one and consumed 15,888 acres with no containment, according to San Juan Incident Management Team Eight, which is leading the fire response.
Verb
-
Fierce domestic competition has eroded its footprint in China, one of its most important markets.
-
Moscow says the strike was retaliation for Ukraine’s 40-day campaign on Russian oil refineries and supply lines, which has fueled shortages, hit Crimea and eroded battlefield momentum.
Verb
-
In Nuuk, Horn dined multiple times with Pele Broberg, the head of the Naleraq Party.
-
The pair dined at a Mexican restaurant followed by dessert at a cookie shop.
Verb
-
Others are annoyed that its ambiguous language will create confusion over how — or if — the state will enforce compliance.
-
David goes on a tour of the past 250 years and is deeply annoyed by every facet of it.
Verb
-
On Tuesday, El Tri played with an intensity that devoured Ecuador from the onset and increased the belief among Mexicans that this team could make history.
-
In the spring, arugula is often devoured by flea beetles, so plant it in the fall to avoid the pest.
Verb
-
Whole hogs, widely available and suitable for slow, open-fire cooking that fed large communal gatherings, became central to the area’s emerging cuisine.
-
After each cleaning session, the larvae were fed fruit or vegetable peels, since feeding only on flesh can prevent the superworms from molting or even hasten their death.
Verb
-
Maybe Bill Plaschke would be aware of that, and give due credit, if his hometown major newspaper bothered to have a dedicated correspondent covering one of the city’s NBA teams.
-
For all the breathless coverage devoted to celebrity engagements, weddings, and whirlwind divorces, some of Hollywood’s most enduring love stories involve couples who never bothered with the paperwork.
Verb
-
Hardaway has feasted on open shots created by Jokic and Doncic in recent years.
-
Brian Brobbey and Cody Gakpo feasted off low crosses to each score twice, punctuating this as the World Cup of cutbacks.
Cite this Entry
“Ate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ate. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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