1
as in to consume
to destroy all trace of
a series of devastating storms devoured the beach on the south side of the island
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to spend
to make complete use of
a catastrophic medical event that devoured their savings
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 devour
But sadder yet is when a deer or rabbit decides to devour a young plant, leaving behind one stubby, leafless stick in the ground.
—
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 23 July 2025
Anya Taylor-Joy, imperiously slender and with devouring eyes, has a porcelain haughtiness that doesn’t quite work as Emma Woodhouse — at least not for me.
—Tom Gliatto, People.com, 19 July 2025
When the eggs hatch, the young devour the still-living roaches.
—Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 14 July 2025
Wild honeybees in Southern California are devouring the food supplies of native pollinators — posing a potential threat to the region’s natural ecosystems, a new study has found.
—Sharon Udasin, The Hill, 7 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for devour
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 23 July 2025
Anya Taylor-Joy, imperiously slender and with devouring eyes, has a porcelain haughtiness that doesn’t quite work as Emma Woodhouse — at least not for me.
—Tom Gliatto, People.com, 19 July 2025
When the eggs hatch, the young devour the still-living roaches.
—Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 14 July 2025
Wild honeybees in Southern California are devouring the food supplies of native pollinators — posing a potential threat to the region’s natural ecosystems, a new study has found.
—Sharon Udasin, The Hill, 7 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for devour
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devour
Verb
-
And each switch requires the brain to reorient itself, which consumes mental energy and slows overall performance, Dr. Schiff explains.—
Noma Nazish,
Forbes.com,
26 July 2025
-
Good Culture took advantage of its own viral moment with an ad campaign embracing the various ways of preparing and consuming its product.—
Danielle Wiener-Bronner,
CNN Money,
26 July 2025
Verb
-
Soliman spent about four years at Cincinnati Children's, first arriving in the United States in 2014 after being persecuted in his native Egypt for work in support of freelance journalists.—
Patricia Gallagher Newberry,
The Enquirer,
25 July 2025
-
Pyne spent 15 seasons there as a firefighter, some of them living in an old cabin built by the Civilian Conservation Corps.—
Tom Zoellner,
AZCentral.com,
25 July 2025
Verb
-
When someone ingests or inhales lead particles, the body confuses them with other minerals, Del Rio said.—
Karl Schneider,
IndyStar,
30 July 2025
-
Adding a few drops of essential oil to hot water and inhaling the steam can be beneficial for relieving congestion.—
Ayesha Gulzar,
Verywell Health,
29 July 2025
Verb
-
The answer is to stop dating men who drain your brilliance, and to start dating as the woman who chooses herself first.—
Ximena Araya-Fischel,
Forbes.com,
25 July 2025
-
Several of Yazan’s four older siblings also looked thin and drained.—
Wafaa Shurafa,
Chicago Tribune,
25 July 2025
Verb
-
Mindful Coffee Or Tea Break Instead of gulping your drink while answering emails, try this: Hold the cup, feel its warmth, smell the aroma and enjoy the first sip.—
Bronwen Sciortino,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2025
-
Read More: When to Go to the Emergency Room vs. Urgent Care Keeping your head above water can help reduce the likelihood of gulping down germs.—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
23 May 2025
Verb
-
Ferrell, who contended that their father wanted to be cremated, ultimately agreed to a settlement, reportedly after exhausting nearly $100,000 in legal fees and running out of funds to continue the fight.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
23 July 2025
-
The goal is to exhaust the activist organization’s resources and force them to shut down.—
Marianne Krasny,
Forbes.com,
22 July 2025
Verb
-
Try to avoid cramming errands, intense planning or doomscrolling right before bed.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
21 July 2025
-
There seems to be, in some superhero movies, cramming other people in because people like seeing these characters together.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
18 July 2025
Verb
-
Some of that tariff cost will be passed on to consumers, and some will be absorbed by U.S. tomato importers, Badillo said.—
Daniel Gonzalez,
AZCentral.com,
22 July 2025
-
Bonding panels together rather than welding them makes controlling the NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) levels much easier as the adhesives absorb vibrations, while the stiffness provides much more control in terms of lateral movement.—
Alex Kalogiannis,
ArsTechnica,
22 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Devour.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devour. Accessed 3 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share