critter

noun

crit·​ter ˈkri-tər How to pronounce critter (audio)
informal
: an animal : creature sense 1
Most of her sublime illustrations involve hippos and pigs, which are appealing critters, especially when they have a few chocolate smudges around the mouth.People Weekly
When the wind is blowing just so, the field is set afire on three sides, and all manner of critters get flushed out of one end—snakes, possums, raccoons, and rabbits, lots of rabbits.Alexander Wolff
Flies, gnats, mosquitoes, ticks, mites and lice pester your horse year-round. If you ignore them, these critters can cause your equine friend months of misery.Charlene Strickland
sometimes used of a person
Sale admits that humans, being the relatively big-brained critters we are, cannot do without technology …M. Kujawa

Examples of critter in a Sentence

The woods are filled with skunks, raccoons, and other critters. she's so fond of every kind of critter that she ought to be a veterinarian
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Although this story sounds like the ultimate revenge fantasy of any gardener who has watched his or her vegetable patch be ravaged by critters, a portion of it is true. Joan Morris, The Mercury News, 3 Feb. 2025 The animatronic critter, adds Stoller, was really heavy. Jessica Wang, EW.com, 31 Jan. 2025 Join a kayaking excursion on the Mosquito Lagoon, Banana River or the Indian River Lagoon, and glide across dark waters that pop with sparkling trails of aqua and indigo when the glowing critters are disturbed by oars or passing fish. Emily Matchar, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Jan. 2025 Although it’s injured after escaping from one of the traps, Yuri manages to bond with the little critter and treat its minor lacerations after smuggling him home in her backpack. Justin Lowe, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for critter 

Word History

Etymology

by alteration

First Known Use

1815, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of critter was in 1815

Dictionary Entries Near critter

Cite this Entry

“Critter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/critter. Accessed 11 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

critter

noun
crit·​ter ˈkrit-ər How to pronounce critter (audio)
informal
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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