1
Core quality
Important or significant, especially because of the effects or consequences that follow.
Example
The court issued a consequential ruling on privacy.
consequential
/ˌkɒnsɪˈkwenʃəl/ · kon-suh-KWEN-shuladjective
Important or significant, especially because of the effects or consequences that follow.
Use consequential to express this relationship precisely: important or significant, especially because of the effects or consequences that follow.
What consequential Really Means
The word becomes easier to use when its closely related senses are separated and compared.
2
Attributive or predicative use
Use this adjective before a suitable noun or after a linking verb such as be or seem.
Example
A seemingly minor error became highly consequential.
3
Analytical distinction
Choose it when this exact descriptive quality matters; a related word may overlap without conveying the same trait.
Example
The discovery was consequential for several fields.
Use consequential Naturally
Notice how the surrounding noun or clause reveals the exact shade of meaning.
The court issued a consequential ruling on privacy.
A seemingly minor error became highly consequential.
The discovery was consequential for several fields.
Precision Matters
Consequential overlaps with several common words, but each carries a different emphasis.
consequential
vs.Means important or significant, especially because of the effects or consequences that follow.
trivial
Means of little importance or consequence.
consequential
vs.Means important or significant, especially because of the effects or consequences that follow.
peripheral
Means situated at the edge or secondary to the main issue.
consequential
vs.Means important or significant, especially because of the effects or consequences that follow.
nominal
Means existing in name or official title only rather than in reality; also, very small or token in amount.
consequential
vs.Means important or significant, especially because of the effects or consequences that follow.
momentous
Means very important or significant.
Test consequential in Context
The report proved important because of its far-reaching effects.
1
Because it changed both policy and later research, the report was far more ___ than its modest reception suggested.