1,400 new words in our dictionary! — Parasocial, glow-up, promposal & more
1,400 new words in our dictionary! — More

critter

noun

ˈkri-tər How to pronounce critter (audio)
Definition of critternext
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 These critters may look cute and cuddly, but their sharp claws are anything but. — Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 30 Aug. 2026 Thanks to all these survey techniques, Arizona scientists are making inroads in illuminating the secret lives of these nocturnal critters. — Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 28 Aug. 2026 Vinegar White vinegar is a common household pest deterrent for mice and other critters due to its strong, acidic smell. — Emily Benda Gaylord, The Spruce, 28 Aug. 2026 Land targeted for conservation makes up a quilt of South Florida wilderness, from coastal wetland to tropical hammocks, inhabited by rare plants, butterflies, bats, snakes and other critters. — Jenny Staletovich, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for critter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for critter
  1. animal
  2. creature
Noun
  • The whale did not eat as consistently as her fellow animals, which complicated the efforts to keep her well-fed and hydrated, according to the statement.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Sep. 2026
  • No animals that might cause people to wonder, or to feel wonder, at their own place in the universe.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of animal
Noun
  • One of the villain’s henchmen was a small, shaggy blue creature with a long drooping snout and a sour expression that lived in a cigar box.
    — Niranjana Rajalakshmi, Popular Science, 24 Sep. 2026
  • With every whimper, sigh, howl, bark and head tilt, these dogs create an empathetic portrayal of a highly intelligent creature that has been through battle and has the scars (and nightmares) to prove it.
    — Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of creature

Browse Nearby Words

critiques
critter
critters
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Critter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/critter. Accessed 26 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of confabulate

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 25
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of the words cracker fly and sale arranged in a triangle with the word fire in the middle
Triple Play Quiz Find the word that pairs with each of the three g...
See All