consumptive
adjective
con·sump·tive
| \ kən-ˈsəm(p)-tiv
\
\
Definition of consumptive
(Entry 1 of 2)
1
: tending to consume
2
: of, relating to, or affected with consumption
consumptive
nounDefinition of consumptive (Entry 2 of 2)
: a person affected with consumption
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Examples of consumptive in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective
And all this is happening as our consumptive habits require more goods, more packaging, more waste. — Steve Lopezcolumnist, Los Angeles Times, "Column: I took the contents of my blue bin to the recycling center. Here’s what I learned," 17 Aug. 2019 There is also a growing movement for less-consumptive lifestyles that favors zero-waste goals. — Ana Baptista, The Conversation, "Is burning trash a good way to handle it? Waste incineration in 5 charts," 20 June 2019 In 2018, Wisconsin is scheduled to receive $35 million from P-R and D-J. Efforts have failed to establish similar excise tax programs from non-consumptive industries such as bird watching, hiking, camping and mountain biking. — Paul A. Smith, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Smith: Wildlife groups push bill to restore non-game species," 18 Apr. 2018 Agricultural irrigation is considered one of the biggest consumptive uses of large-scale water withdrawals, meaning the water does not return to the basin after it's used. — Keith Matheny, Detroit Free Press, "Nestlé-style water withdrawals would be easier in Michigan under new bill, critics say," 27 Feb. 2018 Amazon is the large intestine of the consumptive self. — Scott Galloway, Esquire, "Silicon Valley’s Tax-Avoiding, Job-Killing, Soul-Sucking Machine," 8 Feb. 2018 The majority of non-consumptive coastal trips in the region occurred in Los Angeles County and the fewest occurred in Ventura County, with beach going, scenic enjoyment and biking or hiking the most popular activities. — Laylan Connelly, Orange County Register, "Fishing vs. environment: Have 5 years of restrictions off the coast helped sea creatures?," 28 Mar. 2017 The language legitimizes the use of wildlife for commercial purposes and encourages a consumptive attitude that stimulates demand for wildlife products, wrote Xie Yan, a researcher at the China Central Academy of Zoology. — National Geographic, "Five Ways China’s Wildlife Protection Law Will Harm Wildlife," 1 Feb. 2016Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
Sixty-four sopranos have taken turns as Mimì, a select club of heartbreaking consumptives that has included Teresa Stratas, Renata Tebaldi, Mirella Freni, Renata Scotto, Anna Netrebko and Sonya Yoncheva. — Michael Cooper, New York Times, "Triumph, Tragedy and 50,000 Hats: The Met Opera by the Numbers," 5 May 2017 Hedge funders are supposed to be yodeling Tarzans, not fragile consumptives in a Verdi opera. — Jennifer Senior, New York Times, "Review: ‘Black Edge,’ an Account of a Hedge Fund Magnate and Insider Trading," 1 Feb. 2017These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'consumptive.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for consumptive
consumptive
nounEnglish Language Learners Definition of consumptive
old-fashioned
: a person who has tuberculosis
See the full definition for consumptive in the English Language Learners Dictionary
consumptive
adjective
con·sump·tive
| \ -ˈsəm(p)-tiv
\
\
Medical Definition of consumptive
(Entry 1 of 2)
: of, relating to, or affected with consumption
a consumptive cough a consumptive child
consumptive
nounMedical Definition of consumptive (Entry 2 of 2)
: an individual affected with consumption