carnivore
noun
car·ni·vore
ˈkär-nə-ˌvȯr 
1
a
: an animal (such as a dog, fox, crocodile, or shark) that feeds primarily or exclusively on animal matter : a carnivorous animal
As big as a bull elephant, T. rex weighed 15 times as much as the largest carnivores living on land today.—
Erik Stokstad
Erik StokstadCarnivores [=people who eat meat] will appreciate the restaurant's refined version of surf-and-turf: steak au poivre matched with sweet, large prawns.—Matthew DeBord
Matthew DeBord
b
: any of an order (Carnivora) of animals that feed primarily or exclusively on animal matter : carnivoran
Farther back in their mouths lie some special teeth known as the carnassials. These are the hallmark of the true carnivores, or carnivorans—members of a great order of placental mammals, the Carnivora.—Richard H. Tedford
Richard H. Tedford2
: a carnivorous plant
the Venus flytrap and other carnivores subsisting on insects
Examples of carnivore in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
For too long, Wyoming has been an outlier in tolerating extreme cruelty toward its wild carnivores.
—Wendy Keefover, Denver Post, 10 Mar. 2026
Salty Parmesan, spicy baby arugula leaves, and creamy white beans combine to form a hearty salad perfect for vegetarian guests or carnivores craving greens.
—Josh Miller, Southern Living, 5 Mar. 2026
Nile monitors are carnivores that actively hunt vertebrate prey.
—Sergio Candido, Miami Herald, 24 Feb. 2026
Nile monitors are carnivores that actively hunt vertebrate prey.
—Sergio Candido, CBS News, 23 Feb. 2026
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Wendy Keefover, Denver Post, 10 Mar. 2026
Salty Parmesan, spicy baby arugula leaves, and creamy white beans combine to form a hearty salad perfect for vegetarian guests or carnivores craving greens.
—Josh Miller, Southern Living, 5 Mar. 2026
Nile monitors are carnivores that actively hunt vertebrate prey.
—Sergio Candido, Miami Herald, 24 Feb. 2026
Nile monitors are carnivores that actively hunt vertebrate prey.
—Sergio Candido, CBS News, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for carnivore
Cite this Entry
“Carnivore.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carnivore. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
carnivore
noun
car·ni·vore
ˈkär-nə-ˌvō(ə)r
-ˌvȯ(ə)r
1
: a flesh-eating animal
especially
: any of an order of flesh-eating mammals
2
: a plant that traps and digests insects
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