Consequences — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun phrase /ˈkän(t)-sə-ˌkwen(t)s/ (noun) /ˌself-ˈkän(t)-sə-ˌkwen(t)s/ (noun) con·se·quence

Meaning & Definition of Consequences

Consequences (noun)

  1. a conclusion derived through logic, inference
  2. something produced by a cause or necessarily following from a set of conditions
  3. importance with respect to power to produce an effect
  4. self-importance

Consequences (geographical name)

  1. city on the Rio Grande in southwestern New Mexico the name of which was changed as part of a radio program promotion in 1950 population 6475

Consequences (phrase)

  1. to be punished for what one has done

Consequences (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a condition or occurrence traceable to a cause

    "the flood was an inevitable consequence of the prolonged, heavy rains"

    similar: aftereffects, aftermaths, backwashes, children, conclusions, corollaries, developments, effects, fates, fruits, issues, outcomes, outgrowths, precipitates, products, resultants, results, sequels, sequences, upshots, matters of course
    related: ramifications, denouements, echoes, implications, repercussions, afterclaps, afterglows, aftershocks, blowbacks, by-products, fallouts, offshoots, ripples, side effects, spin-offs
    opposite: antecedents, causations, causes, occasions, reasons
    near: considerations, determinants, factors, bases, foundations, grounds, groundworks, impetuses, incentives, inspirations, instigations, stimuli, mothers, origins, roots, sources, springs

  2. an opinion arrived at through a process of reasoning

    "I am able to deduce several consequences from those premises"

    similar: conclusions, deductions, determinations, eductions, inductions, inferences, sequiturs
    related: decisions, deliverances, diagnoses, judgments, resolutions, rulings, verdicts, conjectures, guesses, surmises, assumptions, presumptions, suppositions

Related Entry: Consequence (noun)

Consequence is a different word from Consequences. The synonyms below are for consequence, not for consequences.

  1. a condition or occurrence traceable to a cause

    "the flood was an inevitable consequence of the prolonged, heavy rains"

    similar: aftereffect, aftermath, backwash, child, conclusion, corollary, development, effect, fate, fruit, issue, outcome, outgrowth, precipitate, product, result, resultant, sequel, sequence, upshot, matter of course
    related: ramification, denouement, echo, implication, repercussion, afterclap, afterglow, aftershock, blowback, by-product, fallout, offshoot, ripple, side effect, spin-off
    opposite: antecedent, causation, cause, occasion, reason
    near: consideration, determinant, factor, base, basis, foundation, ground, groundwork, impetus, incentive, inspiration, instigation, stimulus, mother, origin, root, source, spring

  2. the quality or state of being important

    "a mistake that was of no great consequence"

    similar: account, import, importance, magnitude, moment, momentousness, significance, weight, weightiness
    related: celebrity, distinction, eminence, fame, note, noteworthiness, notoriety, preeminence, prominence, renown, store, substance, substantiveness, value, worth, worthiness, gravity, seriousness, authority, control, dominion, mastery, potency, power, sway, mark, name, report, reputation, repute, centrality, essentiality, essentialness, cachet, position, prestige, rank, standing, stature, status, glory, greatness, honor, illustriousness
    opposite: insignificance, littleness, puniness, slightness, smallness, triviality
    near: paltriness, pettiness, valuelessness, worthlessness, discredit, disgrace, dishonor, disrepute, ignominy, infamy, odium, opprobrium, shame, anonymity, obscurity

  3. an exaggerated sense of one's importance that shows itself in the making of excessive or unjustified claims

    "a junior executive who strutted around the office with all of the consequence of a peacock in pinstripes"

    similar: arrogance, assumption, bumptiousness, haughtiness, hauteur, high horse, huffiness, imperiousness, loftiness, lordliness, masterfulness, peremptoriness, pomposity, pompousness, presumptuousness, pretense, pretension, pretentiousness, self-consequence, self-importance, superciliousness, superiority, toploftiness
    related: authoritativeness, bossiness, bowwow, brag, dominance, high-handedness, condescension, disdain, scorn, chest-thumping, inflation, self-assertion, side (chiefly British), snobbery, snobbishness, snobbism, snootiness, attitude, cheek, cheekiness, impertinence, impudence, sauciness, boastfulness, bombast, braggadocio, bravado, strut, swagger, triumphalism, vaingloriousness, vainglory, cockiness, complacence, conceit, egoism, egotism, pride, pridefulness, self-assumption, self-centeredness, self-complacency, self-conceit, self-content, self-contentment, self-opinion, self-partiality, self-satisfaction, smugness, swelled head, vanity, superiority complex
    opposite: humility, modesty, unassumingness, unpretentiousness
    near: bashfulness, demureness, retiringness, shyness, diffidence, self-distrust, self-doubt, timidity, timidness, lowliness, meekness, mousiness, passiveness, passivity, submissiveness, quietness, reserve, reservedness

  4. an opinion arrived at through a process of reasoning

    "I am able to deduce several consequences from those premises"

    similar: conclusion, deduction, determination, eduction, induction, inference, sequitur
    related: decision, deliverance, diagnosis, judgment, resolution, ruling, verdict, conjecture, guess, surmise, assumption, presumption, supposition

Related Entry: Self-consequence (noun)

Self-consequence is a different word from Consequences. The synonyms below are for self-consequence, not for consequences.

  1. an exaggerated sense of one's importance that shows itself in the making of excessive or unjustified claims

    "had the self-consequence of someone who was born wealthy and never had to work a day in his life"

    similar: arrogance, assumption, bumptiousness, consequence, haughtiness, hauteur, high horse, huffiness, imperiousness, loftiness, lordliness, masterfulness, peremptoriness, pomposity, pompousness, presumptuousness, pretense, pretension, pretentiousness, self-importance, superciliousness, superiority, toploftiness
    related: authoritativeness, bossiness, bowwow, brag, dominance, high-handedness, condescension, disdain, scorn, chest-thumping, inflation, self-assertion, side (chiefly British), snobbery, snobbishness, snobbism, snootiness, attitude, cheek, cheekiness, impertinence, impudence, sauciness, boastfulness, bombast, braggadocio, bravado, strut, swagger, triumphalism, vaingloriousness, vainglory, cockiness, complacence, conceit, egoism, egotism, pride, pridefulness, self-assumption, self-centeredness, self-complacency, self-conceit, self-content, self-contentment, self-opinion, self-partiality, self-satisfaction, smugness, swelled head, vanity, superiority complex
    opposite: humility, modesty, unassumingness, unpretentiousness
    near: bashfulness, demureness, retiringness, shyness, diffidence, self-distrust, self-doubt, timidity, timidness, lowliness, meekness, mousiness, passiveness, passivity, submissiveness, quietness, reserve, reservedness

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Consequences

The most common words with a similar meaning to Consequences:

aftereffects, aftermaths, backwashes, children, conclusions, corollaries, developments, effects, fates, fruits, issues, outcomes, outgrowths, precipitates, products, resultants, results, sequels, sequences, upshots, deductions, determinations, eductions, inductions, inferences, sequiturs, matters of course

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Consequences

Words with the opposite meaning of Consequences:

antecedents, causations, causes, occasions, reasons

Related Words for Consequences

ramifications, denouements, echoes, implications, repercussions, afterclaps, afterglows, aftershocks, blowbacks, by-products, fallouts, offshoots, ripples, side effects, spin-offs, decisions, deliverances, diagnoses, judgments, resolutions, rulings, verdicts, conjectures, guesses, surmises, assumptions, presumptions, suppositions

Near Antonyms of Consequences

considerations, determinants, factors, bases, foundations, grounds, groundworks, impetuses, incentives, inspirations, instigations, stimuli, mothers, origins, roots, sources, springs

Origin & Etymology of Consequences

Middle English, "result, outcome, something following logically from a premise," borrowed from Anglo-French consequens, consequence, borrowed from Latin consequentia "succession of events, logical outcome, necessary sequence," noun derivative of consequent-, consequens, past participle of consequī "to come after, succeed in time, follow as a necessary consequence" consequent:2

First known use: 15th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Consequences

Words & Phrases Containing Consequences

suffer the consequences

Frequently Asked Questions about Consequences

What does "Consequences" mean?

"Consequences" means a conclusion derived through logic, inference. As an a noun and a phrase, it is defined as: a conclusion derived through logic, inference. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Consequences"?

Other words for "Consequences" include aftereffects, aftermaths, backwashes, children, conclusions, corollaries, developments and effects. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Consequences" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Consequences"?

There are 55 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Consequences". Common alternatives include aftereffects, aftermaths, backwashes, children, conclusions, corollaries, developments, effects, fates and fruits.

What is the opposite of "Consequences"?

Antonyms of "Consequences" include antecedents, causations, causes, occasions and reasons. Near antonyms include considerations, determinants, factors and bases.

How do you use "Consequences" in a sentence?

Examples of "Consequences" in a sentence: "the flood was an inevitable consequence of the prolonged, heavy rains"; "I am able to deduce several consequences from those premises".

Is "Consequences" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Consequences" can be used as a noun and a phrase, depending on the context.

Is "Consequences" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

It is on the Academic Word List, so it appears often in IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, and university texts.

How do you pronounce "Consequences"?

"Consequences" is pronounced /ˈkän(t)-sə-ˌkwen(t)s/ as a noun and /ˌself-ˈkän(t)-sə-ˌkwen(t)s/ as a noun and divided into syllables as con·se·quence.