kən-ˈsə-mət
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Consummate, which derives from the Latin verb consummare (meaning "to sum up" or "to finish"), has been used as an adjective in English since the 15th century. Some usage commentators feel the word is overused and others think it should be limited to the "perfect" sense (as in "a consummate little model of a clipper ship"), but neither of those positions is more than an opinion. All of the senses of the word are well-established and have served careful writers well for many, many years.
Synonyms
Examples of consummate in a Sentence
Dick Teresi, New York Times Book Review, 24 July 1994
To thrive in science, you must be both a consummate collaborator and a relentless competitor.
—Natalie Angier, New York Times Book Review, 6 Nov. 1988
The rest of his life (he lived for a few more years) was one great consummate silence.
—R. K. Narayan, "Under the Banyan Tree,"
in The Story and Its Writer, edited by Ann Charters, 1987
"How dare you!" Natalie screamed, in consummate frustration …
—Joseph Wambaugh, The Black Marble, 1978
He plays the piano with consummate skill.
consummate cabinetmakers, they produced desks and chests of drawers that are now regarded as masterpieces of American furniture
Verb
In part she had loved him for that, loved the tender understanding with which he had acquiesced to her wish not to consummate their relationship out of wedlock.
—Dorothy West, The Wedding, 1995
Once the sale was consummated, a thorough housecleaning took place in the advertising department …
—Brendan Gill, New York Times Book Review, 4 Oct. 1987
By prolonging the suspense and terror, he was needlessly delaying the reconciliation he himself was yearning so dearly to consummate.
—Joseph Heller, God Knows, 1984
The bargaining process went on for a few days, but the deal was never consummated.
Their happiness was consummated when their son was born.
Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 9 Feb. 2023
Nova — who died at 40, in 1975, from bone cancer — was a consummate rule breaker.
—Allyson McCabe, New York Times, 20 Jan. 2023
See all Example Sentences for consummate 
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'consummate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near consummate
Cite this Entry
“Consummate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/consummate. Accessed 3 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
consummate
1 of 2 adjective
ˈkän(t)-sə-mət
consummate
2 of 2 verb
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