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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 The famed Big 5 (elephants, buffalos, leopards, rhinos, and lions) are all easily spotted in these lands, but the diverse habitats provide opportunities for different behavioral sightings, from feeding to bathing and mating. — Paul Jebara, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Aug. 2026 The colorful new benches are shaped like animals — elephants, gorillas. — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 27 Aug. 2026 Animals like an elephant, rhino or a giraffe, can't fit in a CT scanner, or even a van, so vets bring the check up to them. — Maddie Rhodes, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026 Discworld is a flat earth balanced on the backs of four elephants, which are in turn standing on an enormous turtle, Great A’Tuin. — Carline Tromp, The Dial, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for elephant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elephant
  1. whale
  2. giant
  3. dinosaur
  4. monster
  5. mammoth
Noun
  • The public is advised to stay alert, particularly in active waterways with boat traffic, as whales can surface unexpectedly.
    — Megan Fahrney, ABC News, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Each watertight bubble contains a colorful object, such as a duck or whale, to distract your little one while they’re being cleaned.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of whale
Noun
  • As tech giants race to expand computing infrastructure, Nvidia has emerged as the single biggest beneficiary of the current AI boom.
    — , CNBC, 18 Sep. 2026
  • The backstory Opened in 2016 as Atton Brickell, the property was acquired and rebranded by French hospitality giant Accor under its stylish Novotel umbrella.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of giant
Noun
  • The feathers were partially adapted for diving, yet retained primitive, fuzzy down typical of non-avian dinosaurs.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 10 Sep. 2026
  • The feather dates back to the late Cretaceous, right before the great extinction event that wiped out the dinosaurs and a large swath of other species.
    — Ari Daniel, NPR, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of dinosaur
Noun
  • What kind of direction was Cregger giving you during the monster fight at the end?
    — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Based on the popular Capcom video games, Resident Evil stars Austin Abrams as Bryan, an outmatched medical courier who becomes trapped in a monster outbreak in Raccoon City during a single night of chaos and has to try to survive.
    — Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 18 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
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Cite this Entry

“Elephant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elephant. Accessed 20 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on elephant

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about elephant

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