as in hierarchy
a series of types of living things in which each one uses the next lower member of the series as a source of food
Sharks eat fish that are lower in the food chain. animals that are at the top of the food chain
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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for food chain
Noun
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But talking about identity has ever-shifting rules and hierarchies that amount to bear-traps that can spring at any time.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
9 Feb. 2026 -
Would another defeat at Spurs change the hierarchy’s view on his position?—
Chris Waugh,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Both candidates listed a variety of endorsements, but notable locally was a grouping of current County Board members, nine of the 14 sitting Democrats, around Rodriguez.—
Joseph States,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Feb. 2026
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The grouping of all LVMH’s fragrance and cosmetics holdings under one executive’s purview came at a time when the beauty industry’s competitiveness was ramping up, especially as niche brands became hot commodities.—
Jennifer Weil,
Footwear News,
9 Feb. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Food chain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/food%20chain. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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