consummate
1 of 2adjective
con·sum·mate ˈkän(t)-sə-mət 
kən-ˈsə-mət
kən-ˈsə-mət 1
: extremely skilled and accomplished
a consummate liar
a consummate professional
2
: of the highest degree
consummate skill
consummate cruelty
3
: complete in every detail : perfect
a consummate model of a clipper ship
consummately adverb
consummate
2 of 2verb
con·sum·mate ˈkän(t)-sə-ˌmāt
consummated; consummating
transitive verb
1
: to make (marital union) complete by sexual intercourse
consummate a marriage
2
a
: finish, complete
consummate a business deal
b
: to make perfect
c
: achieve
… his desire of consummating victory and revenge made him cautious …
Edward Bulwer-Lytton
Edward Bulwer-Lyttonintransitive verb
: to become perfected
consummative
ˈkän(t)-sə-ˌmā-tiv kən-ˈsə-mə-tiv
adjective kən-ˈsə-mə-tiv consummator
ˈkän(t)-sə-ˌmāt-ər
noun 
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Are You Using consummate Correctly?
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
Adjective
- accomplished
- ace
- adept
- compleat
- complete
- crack
- crackerjack
- educated
- experienced
- expert
- good
- great
- master
- masterful
- masterly
- practiced
- practised
- professed
- proficient
- skilled
- skillful
- versed
- veteran
- virtuoso
Verb
- complete
- finalize
- finish
- perfect
- polish
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Adjective … Berg, the consummate schmoozer, was the perfect spy for the job. 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. See More
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. See More Recent Examples on the Web Matt Simon, WIRED, 30 Aug. 2022 Bill was the ultimate winner and consummate teammate, and his influence on the NBA will be felt forever. Bruce Jenkins, San Francisco Chronicle, 31 July 2022 Bill was the ultimate winner and consummate teammate, and his influence on the NBA will be felt forever. Jimmy Golen, Chron, 31 July 2022 Bill was the ultimate winner and consummate teammate, and his influence on the NBA will be felt forever. Jimmy Golen, oregonlive, 31 July 2022 Lyre’s White Cane Spirit, a substitute for rum, though unmoving alone, makes a consummate not-rum and Coke. Tamar Adler, Vogue, 18 Aug. 2022 Their consummate musicality throughout the entire work made this an unforgettable experience. San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Aug. 2022 The band were consummate pros, the sound on stage was excellent, all-in-all a wonderful and painless soundcheck. Ben Rector, Peoplemag, 11 Aug. 2022 Latin is seductive—the consummate logic of its syntactical cases, the mercurial dance of the ablative absolute. Cynthia Ozick, The Atlantic, 3 Aug. 2022 Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 6 Sep. 2022 On July 12, Twitter filed a lawsuit against Musk, seeking to force the world’s richest person to consummate his $44 billion acquisition deal for the company. Todd Spangler, Variety, 9 Aug. 2022 On July 12, Twitter filed a lawsuit against Musk, seeking to force the world’s richest person to consummate his $44 billion acquisition deal for the company. Todd Spangler, Variety, 9 Aug. 2022 In advance of the trial, set for October despite Musk's attempts to push it back to 2023, Elon Musk is apparently preparing for the worst-case scenario of being forced to consummate the deal. Eric Bangeman, Ars Technica, 10 Aug. 2022 On July 12, Twitter filed a lawsuit against Musk, seeking to force the world’s richest person to consummate his $44 billion acquisition deal for the company. Todd Spangler, Variety, 9 Aug. 2022 Kuzma’s $13 million deal would help consummate a deal. Andy Larsen, The Salt Lake Tribune, 27 July 2022 If either side sues, a court may order Musk to consummate the purchase. Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 June 2022 As a general rule, the more teams involved, the more complicated a transaction is to consummate. Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2022 See More
Adjective
Another theory is that legumes might be consummate nitrogen-fixers because something in their genome predisposes them to building nodules. Matt Simon, WIRED, 30 Aug. 2022 Bill was the ultimate winner and consummate teammate, and his influence on the NBA will be felt forever. Bruce Jenkins, San Francisco Chronicle, 31 July 2022 Bill was the ultimate winner and consummate teammate, and his influence on the NBA will be felt forever. Jimmy Golen, Chron, 31 July 2022 Bill was the ultimate winner and consummate teammate, and his influence on the NBA will be felt forever. Jimmy Golen, oregonlive, 31 July 2022 Lyre’s White Cane Spirit, a substitute for rum, though unmoving alone, makes a consummate not-rum and Coke. Tamar Adler, Vogue, 18 Aug. 2022 Their consummate musicality throughout the entire work made this an unforgettable experience. San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Aug. 2022 The band were consummate pros, the sound on stage was excellent, all-in-all a wonderful and painless soundcheck. Ben Rector, Peoplemag, 11 Aug. 2022 Latin is seductive—the consummate logic of its syntactical cases, the mercurial dance of the ablative absolute. Cynthia Ozick, The Atlantic, 3 Aug. 2022 Verb
Those probes have delayed the merger, which in turn prompted DWAC to ask its shareholders for more time to consummate the deal. Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 6 Sep. 2022 On July 12, Twitter filed a lawsuit against Musk, seeking to force the world’s richest person to consummate his $44 billion acquisition deal for the company. Todd Spangler, Variety, 9 Aug. 2022 On July 12, Twitter filed a lawsuit against Musk, seeking to force the world’s richest person to consummate his $44 billion acquisition deal for the company. Todd Spangler, Variety, 9 Aug. 2022 In advance of the trial, set for October despite Musk's attempts to push it back to 2023, Elon Musk is apparently preparing for the worst-case scenario of being forced to consummate the deal. Eric Bangeman, Ars Technica, 10 Aug. 2022 On July 12, Twitter filed a lawsuit against Musk, seeking to force the world’s richest person to consummate his $44 billion acquisition deal for the company. Todd Spangler, Variety, 9 Aug. 2022 Kuzma’s $13 million deal would help consummate a deal. Andy Larsen, The Salt Lake Tribune, 27 July 2022 If either side sues, a court may order Musk to consummate the purchase. Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 June 2022 As a general rule, the more teams involved, the more complicated a transaction is to consummate. Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Adjective and Verb
Middle English consummat fulfilled, from Latin consummatus, past participle of consummare to sum up, finish, from com- + summa sum
First Known Use
Adjective
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3
Verb
circa 1525, in the meaning defined at sense 1
consummating
verb
as in completing
to bring (something) to a state where nothing remains to be done willing to do whatever it takes to consummate a business deal Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- completing
- finishing
- finalizing
- accomplishing
- perfecting
- fulfilling
- executing
- polishing
- achieving
- doing
- effecting
- getting through
- improving
- performing
- enhancing
- amending
- ameliorating
- refining
- sticking out
- carrying out
- enriching
- bettering
- discharging
- carrying through
- shining
- machining
- meliorating
- following through (with)
- touching up
- rounding (off or out)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- abandoning
- dropping
- quitting
- discontinuing
- forsaking
- deserting