Illustration of anaconda
anaconda
noun
an·a·con·da
ˌa-nə-ˈkän-də 
: a large semiaquatic constricting snake (Eunectes murinus) of the boa family of tropical South America that may reach a length of 30 feet (9.1 meters)
broadly
: any of the large constricting snakes
Examples of anaconda in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Think of the legal justice system like an anaconda.
—
Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 25 Aug. 2023
Not just Burmese pythons in Florida:Green anacondas may be breeding in state
Where do hammerhead worms come from?
—Emily Deletter, USA TODAY, 26 July 2023
For the past 50 years, the baby-boomer generation, born between 1946 and 1964, have worked through the American labor force like a big meal inside an anaconda.
—Kevin Schaul, Washington Post, 30 June 2023
Her initial aggressiveness has all the subtlety of an anaconda strangling a foal, and this allows for some formidable hilarity with Feldman’s sheltered rich kid.
—Nicholas Bell, SPIN, 21 June 2023
That’s the case for anacondas, for instance, who are native to warm, tropical climates.
—Sofia Quaglia, Discover Magazine, 24 Feb. 2023
The stretch of the jungle they were found in is one of the most remote and inhospitable in Colombia, where wild animals like jaguars, anacondas or poisonous bugs abound, rains can pour for over 15 hours a day and visibility is sometimes limited to 10 meters due to the thick vegetation.
—Caitlin Hu, CNN, 18 June 2023
There are the inherent dangers of the jungle, from limited to no access to cell or internet services, to natural predators like anacondas and venomous spiders.
—Erika Page, The Christian Science Monitor, 5 June 2023
When the sun goes down, we were told, the Brazilian wandering spiders, bullet ants, poison dart frogs, snakes, giant centipedes, jaguars, anacondas and black caimans come out.
—Virginia Hammerle, Dallas News, 23 Apr. 2023
See More
Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 25 Aug. 2023
Not just Burmese pythons in Florida:Green anacondas may be breeding in state
Where do hammerhead worms come from?
—Emily Deletter, USA TODAY, 26 July 2023
For the past 50 years, the baby-boomer generation, born between 1946 and 1964, have worked through the American labor force like a big meal inside an anaconda.
—Kevin Schaul, Washington Post, 30 June 2023
Her initial aggressiveness has all the subtlety of an anaconda strangling a foal, and this allows for some formidable hilarity with Feldman’s sheltered rich kid.
—Nicholas Bell, SPIN, 21 June 2023
That’s the case for anacondas, for instance, who are native to warm, tropical climates.
—Sofia Quaglia, Discover Magazine, 24 Feb. 2023
The stretch of the jungle they were found in is one of the most remote and inhospitable in Colombia, where wild animals like jaguars, anacondas or poisonous bugs abound, rains can pour for over 15 hours a day and visibility is sometimes limited to 10 meters due to the thick vegetation.
—Caitlin Hu, CNN, 18 June 2023
There are the inherent dangers of the jungle, from limited to no access to cell or internet services, to natural predators like anacondas and venomous spiders.
—Erika Page, The Christian Science Monitor, 5 June 2023
When the sun goes down, we were told, the Brazilian wandering spiders, bullet ants, poison dart frogs, snakes, giant centipedes, jaguars, anacondas and black caimans come out.
—Virginia Hammerle, Dallas News, 23 Apr. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'anaconda.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
probably modification of Sinhalese henakandayā, a slender green snake
First Known Use
1748, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near anaconda
Cite this Entry
“Anaconda.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anaconda. Accessed 30 Nov. 2023.
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Kids Definition
anaconda
noun
an·a·con·da
ˌan-ə-ˈkän-də
: a large South American snake that crushes its prey in its coils
also
: any large snake that crushes its prey like an anaconda
Geographical Definition
Anaconda
geographical name
An·a·con·da
ˌa-nə-ˈkän-də
city in southwestern Montana that grew rapidly following the building of a copper-smelting plant in 1884 and expanded to contain one of the largest nonferrous production plants in the world population 9298
More from Merriam-Webster on anaconda
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for anaconda
Nglish: Translation of anaconda for Spanish Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about anaconda
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