carnivorous
adjective
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The order of mammals that Linnaeus named the Carnivora includes such families as the dogs, the bears, the raccoons, the weasels, the hyenas, the cats, and the seals. Most carnivores eat only meat in the wild, but some have varied diets; some bears, for instance, normally eat far more vegetation than meat. Carnivores have powerful jaws and complex teeth, and most are highly intelligent. Humans, like their ape cousins, are basically omnivores.
Examples of carnivorous in a Sentence
Alida Nugent, Peoplemag, 10 Apr. 2024
The explorers discover a carnivorous aquatic cicada believed to be a mutation of a similar species that inhabits the surface of the Tepuis but only feed on plants.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 3 Apr. 2024
Theropods were a group of bipedal, often carnivorous creatures that includes T. rex and all modern birds.
—Isaac Schultz / Gizmodo, Quartz, 28 Mar. 2024
Carpenter also mentions Godzilla's footprint has three toes, which indicates carnivorous dinosaurs who would have used their feet to hold down prey.
—Elizabeth Gamillo, Discover Magazine, 21 Mar. 2024
Seals, sea lions and walruses of every era still piled onto beaches to rest, reproduce and escape predators—from carnivorous walrus relatives of ages past to the elephant seals that shore up along the California coast each winter.
—Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Mar. 2024
This classic summer vacation spot is also home to natural gifts, including Carolina Beach State Park, with some of the area's finest fishing and the Flytrap Trail, named for the carnivorous Venus Flytrap plants along its path.
—Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 4 Mar. 2024
Moore is planning another trip with the group to seek out carnivorous plants, which are among some of the rare Florida sights found at the preserve.
—Ryan Ballogg, Miami Herald, 29 Feb. 2024
Higher nitrogen isotope values suggest that an animal is feeding higher on the food chain—that is, more likely to be eating carnivorous or herbivorous prey than plants.
—Sarah Sloat, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'carnivorous.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Latin carnivorus, from carn-, caro + -vorus -vorous
1592, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near carnivorous
Cite this Entry
“Carnivorous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carnivorous. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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carnivorous
adjective
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carnivorous
adjective
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