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View synonyms for consequence

consequence

[ kon-si-kwens, -kwuhns ]

noun

  1. the effect, result, or outcome of something occurring earlier:

    The accident was the consequence of reckless driving.

    Synonyms: sequel, upshot, issue, outcome

    Antonyms: cause

  2. an act or instance of following something as an effect, result, or outcome.
  3. the conclusion reached by a line of reasoning; inference.
  4. importance or significance:

    a matter of no consequence.

    Synonyms: weight, moment

  5. importance in rank or position; distinction:

    a man of great consequence in art.



consequence

/ ˈkɒnsɪkwəns /

noun

  1. a result or effect of some previous occurrence
  2. an unpleasant result (esp in the phrase take the consequences )
  3. significance or importance

    it's of no consequence

    a man of consequence

  4. logic
    1. a conclusion reached by reasoning
    2. the conclusion of an argument
    3. the relations between the conclusion and the premises of a valid argument
  5. the relation between an effect and its cause
  6. in consequence
    as a result
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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Other Words From

  • non·conse·quence noun
  • super·conse·quence noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of consequence1

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English (from Anglo-French ), from Latin consequentia. See consequent, -ence
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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms
  1. in consequence of, as a result of; on account of:

    A trial was held in consequence of the investigation.

  2. in consequence, consequently; as a result; hence:

    He withdrew from the world, and in consequence was forgotten.

More idioms and phrases containing consequence

see in consequence ; of consequence .
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Synonym Study

See effect. See importance.
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Example Sentences

Nobody voted for Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch, but he, rather than Merrick Garland, is sitting on the Supreme Court as a direct consequence of election outcomes.

From Vox

We are living the consequences of what happens when these conversations are left to chance.

From Fortune

The aquifer is also fairly protected from sea water seeping into it as the oceans rise from human-caused climate change, a common consequence for many coastal aquifers in California, Danskin said.

As a consequence, it makes it almost impossible for this page to rank well.

Like every summer we have fewer options and the consequences keep getting worse.

Great American leaders have long contributed profound thoughts of tremendous consequence to the public discourse.

In the most extreme cases, it allows for the extrajudicial killing of black people without consequence.

Students deemed “responsible” for alleged sexual assaults on college campuses can face little or no consequence for their acts.

Hitchcock had met or known about everyone of artistic consequence over the last 60 years.

You may be wondering what work of monumental consequence is contained within these gilded pages.

Many of us had been hit by the balls, but a bruise or a graze of the skin was the worst consequence that had ensued.

Insurrectionary movements at Rome in consequence of the pope's refusal to declare war against Austria.

The consequence of this quarrel was that, early in 1794, he found himself accused as a ci-devant noble.

If there is everywhere complete economic freedom, then there will ensue in consequence a régime of social justice.

The consequence was, the disappointed emissary of these double treasons, immediately accused him of his own crimes.

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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