as in omnivores
an animal that eats meat; a meat eater
—sometimes used humorously to refer to people who eat meat
Many of my friends are vegetarians, but I'm a carnivore.
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Recent Examples of carnivores
The word mongoose refers to any of nearly three dozen species of small mammalian carnivores found mainly in Africa but also in southern Asia and southern Europe.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Mar. 2026
Since the 1950s, coyotes have expanded their geographic range by about 40%, roughly twice the rate of other North American carnivores.
—Miriam Fauzia, Dallas Morning News, 26 Mar. 2026
There’s even a whole suborder of carnivores called the pinnipeds, which includes seals, sea lions, and walruses who move between land and water.
—Sara Kiley Watson, Popular Science, 18 Mar. 2026
Great for the paleo carnivores.
—Peter Burke, FOXNews.com, 16 Mar. 2026
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 monitor lizards, powerful carnivores that can grow longer than six feet, are spreading through South Florida, earning a reputation from wildlife officials as one of the most dangerous invasive reptiles in the state.
—Sergio Candido, Miami Herald, 24 Feb. 2026
Nile monitors are carnivores that actively hunt vertebrate prey.
—Sergio Candido, CBS News, 23 Feb. 2026
Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Mar. 2026
Since the 1950s, coyotes have expanded their geographic range by about 40%, roughly twice the rate of other North American carnivores.
—Miriam Fauzia, Dallas Morning News, 26 Mar. 2026
There’s even a whole suborder of carnivores called the pinnipeds, which includes seals, sea lions, and walruses who move between land and water.
—Sara Kiley Watson, Popular Science, 18 Mar. 2026
Great for the paleo carnivores.
—Peter Burke, FOXNews.com, 16 Mar. 2026
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 monitor lizards, powerful carnivores that can grow longer than six feet, are spreading through South Florida, earning a reputation from wildlife officials as one of the most dangerous invasive reptiles in the state.
—Sergio Candido, Miami Herald, 24 Feb. 2026
Nile monitors are carnivores that actively hunt vertebrate prey.
—Sergio Candido, CBS News, 23 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for carnivores
Noun
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Scythia’s plants are its animals, and vice versa, blooming and breeding in alternate generations.—
Stephanie Burt,
New Yorker,
1 Apr. 2026
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Yet rats may be one of the most awe-worthy animals on the planet.—
Jason Bittel,
Big Think,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Riverside County Department of Animal Services officials are seeking help from the public in locating a pair of dogs that were recently involved in an attack on a wild burro, part of a series of attacks on the creatures dating back to late 2025.—
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
4 Apr. 2026
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The house is falling apart, bats in the fireplace, ants marching unfazed across the floor, smells of dead creatures decaying in the walls.—
John Warner,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Some blame the cleanliness of an environment if there is a presence of bed bugs, but really, these critters will show up anywhere there is food.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 Mar. 2026
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Now, viral video footage of a group of dogs stranded on the side of a busy roadway in China has drawn plenty of comparisons to the story, showing a reminiscent group of household critters huddling together.—
Victor Tangermann,
Futurism,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Carnivores.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/carnivores. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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