Define width of .absorbing-column
Set table-layout to auto and define an extreme width on .absorbing-column.
Here I have set the width to 100% because it ensures that this column will take the maximum amount of space allowed, while the columns with no defined width will reduce to fit their content and no further.
This is one of the quirky benefits of how tables behave. The table-layout: auto algorithm is mathematically forgiving.
You may even choose to define a min-width on all td elements to prevent them from becoming too narrow and the table will behave nicely.
table {
table-layout: auto;
border-collapse: collapse;
width: 100%;
}
table td {
border: 1px solid #ccc;
}
table .absorbing-column {
width: 100%;
}<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Column A</th>
<th>Column B</th>
<th>Column C</th>
<th class="absorbing-column">Column D</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Data A.1 lorem</td>
<td>Data B.1 ip</td>
<td>Data C.1 sum l</td>
<td>Data D.1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Data A.2 ipsum</td>
<td>Data B.2 lorem</td>
<td>Data C.2 some data</td>
<td>Data D.2 a long line of text that is long</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Data A.3</td>
<td>Data B.3</td>
<td>Data C.3</td>
<td>Data D.3</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>