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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
Noun
  • Friday’s result provided further clarity on the Heat’s draft pick situation.
    Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 19 Apr. 2025
  • The Webb telescope observations could have occurred by chance or could be the result of previously unknown chemical processes at work on K2-18b.
    George Petras, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • This program will cover strategies for maximizing productivity in small spaces, organic and regenerative gardening techniques, and the importance of building healthy soil.
    Ut Community Press, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Apr. 2025
  • Discover the importance of using rain barrels to conserve water and learn how to assemble and properly place your barrel.
    Joe Rassel, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Solskjaer felt that overconfidence bordering on arrogance might be PSG’s Achilles’ heel.
    Andy Mitten, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2025
  • Titan: Plunges into the chilling 2023 submersible tragedy, peeling back the layers of ambition, arrogance, and a lack of oversight that led to catastrophe.
    Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 16 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • With the massive investments in AI-specific compute capabilities and capacity, along with advancements in inference and reasoning, delivering impactful outcomes to some of our most confounding challenges now seems within reach.
    Rob Green, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025
  • For decades, it had been assumed that Jupiter's atmosphere was well-mixed—a belief that then guided inferences about the gas giant's interior makeup.
    Arick Wierson, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • From her campaign headquarters in Quito, González emphatically rejected the outcome.
    Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 14 Apr. 2025
  • 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
Noun
  • The course is all about immersing students into the significance of wine beyond the glass and to view it as an agricultural product that livelihoods rely on; to showcase this, Suckling hones in on the stories and personalities behind some of Tuscany’s iconic vineyards.
    Jillian Dara, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
  • The significance of this, to Gribetz, is a matter not of race but of class.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 23 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • With the Soviet Union’s collapse, the United States enjoyed a margin of superiority that would have been unimaginable to earlier great powers.
    A. Wess Mitchell, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
  • Will this Lucid’s obvious superiority from a rational perspective be able to offset the minivan-esque styling?
    Michael Teo Van Runkle, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Policymakers also have tools to help keep capital flowing—enhanced depreciation allowances and broader deductions for intangible drilling costs could spur reinvestment without upending the broader fiscal framework that has served the industry well.
    Dan Eberhart, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Congress should look to lower tax rates, not raise taxes by denying deductions for ordinary and necessary business expenses like state business taxes.
    Ryan Ellis, Boston Herald, 12 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

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

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