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elephant

noun

ˈe-lə-fənt How to pronounce elephant (audio)
Definition of elephantnext
as in whale
something or someone that is unusually large and powerful by any standard, the new shopping mall will be an elephant and one that is certain to alter the retail landscape

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 elephant In a small Nepalese village nestled in the heart of a forest populated by wild elephants, Pirati is the matriarch of a Kinnar community. — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 16 Sep. 2026 The scientists also found evidence of specialized, super-sized neurons involved in social cognition only found in large-brain mammals like elephants, whales, and primates, including humans. — Megan Molteni, STAT, 16 Sep. 2026 All mammals, from mice to cats to elephants, appear to sleep in some form or another. — Michael R. Nadorff, The Conversation, 14 Sep. 2026 Other animals like zebras, giraffes, impalas, warthogs, and more soon follow, benefiting from the elephants’ labor. — Nicholas Derenzo, Travel + Leisure, 13 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for elephant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elephant
  1. whale
  2. giant
  3. dinosaur
  4. monster
  5. mammoth
Noun
  • Bringing them to the aquarium to keep them alive likely causes great trauma to the whales after many years of being left alone.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 26 Sep. 2026
  • In a first for marine mammals, veterinarians have used bacteria-killing viruses to treat a beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) with a drug-resistant infection.
    — Margherita Bassi, Popular Science, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of whale
Noun
  • Despite those dynamics, the beverage giant posted net sales growth of 7% in the second quarter, as volume — a key measure of demand — rose 3% in North America.
    — Jacob Pramuk, CNBC, 25 Sep. 2026
  • There’s drinking, dancing, free pool, karaoke nights and late-night smash burgers all in one giant, eclectic space with 250 seats and a capacity of 600 guests.
    — Katelyn Umholtz, Kansas City Star, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of giant
Noun
  • Hups, a science teacher at Colorado’s Northglenn High School, immediately recognized the lumpy sandstone as dinosaur toes.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Some studies suggested many dinosaurs were endotherms, generating their own body heat like birds and mammals.
    — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of dinosaur
Noun
  • They’re rooted in a time and place that feels all too real, and this allows the monsters to parade their primitive might in a way that means something.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 27 Sep. 2026
  • At this point in TV history, audiences had grown jaded by the monster-of-the-week style that every show used and abused, wanting more depth to their programming.
    — Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of monster
Noun
  • In ancient California, they are believed to have existed alongside other extinct native species, including bison-sized Jefferson’s ground sloths, Columbian mammoths and western camels.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026
  • See fossils of the 14-foot, 20,000-pound mammoths that used to roam around Texas.
    — Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of mammoth

Browse Nearby Words

elements
elephant
elephantine
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Elephant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elephant. Accessed 27 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on elephant

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about elephant

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