as in animal
one of the lower animals as distinguished from human beings
she's so fond of every kind of critter that she ought to be a veterinarian
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of critter
Rosemary makes one of the best companion plants for apple trees because of its strong scent that's unpleasing to critters looking to snack on a juicy red apple.
—
Ashlyn Needham, The Spruce, 16 Feb. 2026
The Ohio River isn't frozen enough to safely walk out on, but that didn't stop one curious critter.
—David Ferrara, Cincinnati Enquirer, 8 Feb. 2026
And there are plenty more infant critters in these Wildlife Photographer of the Year images, including a possum, a crab, kestrels and bear cubs galore.
—Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 7 Feb. 2026
Only a handful of other critters share the same history, and most were rescues that could not be returned to their natural habitat.
—Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 7 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for critter
Ashlyn Needham, The Spruce, 16 Feb. 2026
The Ohio River isn't frozen enough to safely walk out on, but that didn't stop one curious critter.
—David Ferrara, Cincinnati Enquirer, 8 Feb. 2026
And there are plenty more infant critters in these Wildlife Photographer of the Year images, including a possum, a crab, kestrels and bear cubs galore.
—Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 7 Feb. 2026
Only a handful of other critters share the same history, and most were rescues that could not be returned to their natural habitat.
—Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 7 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for critter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for critter
Noun
-
He was also ordered to serve 12 months of probation and 20 days of community labor, and to complete a 24-session animal cruelty counseling program, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said in a news release.—
Alex Wigglesworth,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Feb. 2026
-
That’s according to research published on February 25 in , which found that caterpillars can keep a beat called double meter that has so far been identified only in a couple of primates, says co-author Chiara De Gregorio, who studies animal behavior at the University of Warwick in England.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
These bivalves are amazing creatures – turning secretions into valuable pearls, safekeeping the ocean’s health and also being tasty on the half-shell or po’-boy.—
John Metcalfe,
Mercury News,
25 Feb. 2026
-
An overnight stakeout on a deserted winter beach, a mystery creature ripping line for close to an hour, an angler refusing to quit, and then the moment a drone rises over the water and delivers the answer.—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Critter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/critter. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
