Big words are a trap. Honestly, most people use high-level vocabulary just to look smart, but they end up tripping over their own feet. You've probably seen the word concomitant in a medical journal or a dense legal contract and thought, "I should probably use that." But if you don't know how to place concomitant in a sentence correctly, you're going to sound like a middle schooler using a thesaurus for the first time. It’s a clunky word. It’s heavy. Yet, when used right, it’s surgically precise.
Basically, it means something that happens at the same time as something else—usually as a natural consequence. Think of it like a "sidekick" event. If you go for a run, the sweat is concomitant. If a company grows too fast, the mess in the HR department is often a concomitant result. It’s about things that are naturally linked.
The Mechanics of Using Concomitant in a Sentence
Most people mess this up because they treat it like a simple synonym for "associated" or "related." It's not quite that. The nuance matters. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the word stems from the Latin concomitari, meaning "to accompany." It describes a relationship where B happens because A is happening.
Let's look at a few ways to drop concomitant in a sentence without making people roll their eyes.
"The rise in inflation was a concomitant result of the massive stimulus spending."
See how that works? One thing follows the other. It’s not just a random coincidence. It’s a package deal. You can also use it as a noun, though that’s even rarer and a bit more "academic." For example: "Loss of memory is often a concomitant of old age." It sounds a bit formal, sure, but in a medical or sociological context, it’s exactly the right tool for the job.
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Why Context Is King
You wouldn't say this at a dive bar.
"Hey man, the hangover is a concomitant of these five tequila shots."
Your friends will look at you like you’re crazy. Context is everything. In professional writing, however, it saves you words. Instead of saying "the thing that naturally happens alongside the other thing," you just say concomitant.
Common Mistakes People Make with This Word
Don't confuse it with "consecutive." Consecutive means one after the other. Concomitant means together. It’s a symphony, not a line at the DMV.
Another mistake? Redundancy. People will write "concomitant together with." That’s like saying "ATM machine" or "PIN number." The "together" is already baked into the word. Just say "The concomitant rise in sea levels." Stop there.
There's a subtle difference between this and "simultaneous" too. Simultaneous just means at the same time—like two unrelated lightning strikes. Concomitant implies a connection. If you’re writing about a patient experiencing a fever and a rash at the exact same time due to an infection, those are concomitant symptoms. They are part of the same biological story.
Real-World Examples from Literature and Science
If you look at how experts use concomitant in a sentence, you see it a lot in clinical trials. Researchers at the Mayo Clinic or Johns Hopkins often use it to describe side effects.
- "Patients were excluded from the study if they were taking concomitant medications that might interfere with the trial results."
- "The economic boom saw a concomitant increase in the demand for luxury housing."
- "In many cultures, the end of the harvest is celebrated with concomitant festivals and rituals."
These sentences work because they describe a secondary event that is tethered to a primary one. It’s about the bond.
The "Sound Test" for Your Writing
When you’re trying to figure out if it fits, read your sentence out loud. If it feels like you're choking on a marble, swap it for "accompanying." If it flows and adds a layer of authority to a technical report, keep it.
I’ve seen writers use it to describe social shifts. In the 20th century, the rise of the automobile had a concomitant effect on the layout of American cities. We didn't just get cars; we got suburbs, drive-thrus, and massive parking lots. They were all part of the same shift. That’s the power of the word—it captures the "ripple effect" in a single term.
Practical Steps for Mastering New Vocabulary
If you really want to get comfortable with concomitant in a sentence, stop trying to force it. It’s a spice, not the main course.
- Read Academic Journals: Even if you just skim the abstracts on PubMed or JSTOR, you’ll see how researchers use it to link variables.
- Audit Your Emails: Next time you’re explaining a project delay, see if the delay has concomitant risks. It might actually make your report sound more professional.
- Check Your Synonyms: If "accompanying" feels too weak and "associated" feels too vague, concomitant is usually the sweet spot.
Understanding how to use concomitant in a sentence is basically a litmus test for sophisticated writing. It shows you understand not just that things happen, but why they happen together. Use it sparingly, use it accurately, and for heaven's sake, make sure the things you're describing are actually related.
If you're still unsure, try replacing it with "attendant." If "attendant circumstances" makes sense, concomitant probably will too. It’s all about that secondary relationship. Keep your sentences varied, watch your rhythm, and let the vocabulary serve the meaning, not the other way around.
Actionable Insights for Writers
- Check the link: Ensure there is a logical or causal connection between the two events you are describing.
- Avoid the noun form unless you are writing a formal academic paper; the adjective form is much more versatile.
- Watch for redundancy: Never use "alongside" or "with" immediately after concomitant.
- Vary sentence length: If you use a heavy word like this, follow it up with a short, punchy sentence to give the reader’s brain a break.