as in informants
a person who provides information about another's wrongdoing
a canary who was singing and giving up the names of some of the city's most notorious drug lords
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of canaries
By crunching data from millions of monthly payroll records for workers in jobs with exposure to generative AI, the authors concluded that workers ages 22 to 25—the canaries—have seen about a 13 percent decline in employment since late 2022.
—
Josh Tyrangiel, The Atlantic, 10 Feb. 2026
There are no canaries there either.
—Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Jan. 2026
Like canaries in the coal mine ocean form.
—Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2025
During the late 19th and early 20th century, coal miners in Europe and North America used canaries as living carbon monoxide alarms.
—Big Think, 13 Oct. 2025
The outdoor areas are open from March through October, but available year-round is its Bolz Conservatory, a glass pyramid housing huge tropical plants, chirping canaries and darting quail.
—Peter Cameron, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
These early jolts serve as canaries in the coal mine.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2025
Incumbents know their districts best and can be canaries in the electoral coal mines, but those retirements may also put seats in play that would otherwise have been preserved.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 5 Sep. 2025
Media attention has focused on the travails of big cities such as Los Angeles, but smaller cities might be the canaries in the coal mine.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 6 Aug. 2025
Josh Tyrangiel, The Atlantic, 10 Feb. 2026
There are no canaries there either.
—Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Jan. 2026
Like canaries in the coal mine ocean form.
—Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2025
During the late 19th and early 20th century, coal miners in Europe and North America used canaries as living carbon monoxide alarms.
—Big Think, 13 Oct. 2025
The outdoor areas are open from March through October, but available year-round is its Bolz Conservatory, a glass pyramid housing huge tropical plants, chirping canaries and darting quail.
—Peter Cameron, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
These early jolts serve as canaries in the coal mine.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2025
Incumbents know their districts best and can be canaries in the electoral coal mines, but those retirements may also put seats in play that would otherwise have been preserved.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 5 Sep. 2025
Media attention has focused on the travails of big cities such as Los Angeles, but smaller cities might be the canaries in the coal mine.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 6 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for canaries
Noun
-
White newspaper editors were routinely imprisoned or forced to become police informants.—
Eve Fairbanks,
The Dial,
27 Jan. 2026
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But the conviction was overturned and a new trial was ordered because prosecutors failed to disclose evidence that a group of jailhouse informants was illegally used to garner incriminating statements by Smith.—
Tony Saavedra,
Oc Register,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
And so every regime invests in having student informers.—
Anne Applebaum,
The Atlantic,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Security services also rely on informers to tell them who might be using Starlink, and search internet and social media traffic for signs it has been used.—
David Rising,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
His work includes the maintenance of all 20 trails, data collection, search and rescue of lost hikers, and the culling of animals that threaten Saba's ecosystem, including rats.—
Betsy Andrews,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Feb. 2026
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Health advocacy groups such as the Center for Science in the Public Interest have long urged consumers to avoid products containing BHA because some studies have indicated that the chemical causes cancer in rats, mice and hamsters.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Canaries.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/canaries. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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