anteater

noun

ant·​eat·​er ˈant-ˌē-tər 

: any of several mammals that feed largely or entirely on ants or termites: such as

a

: any of a family (Myrmecophagidae) of New World edentates with a long narrow snout, a long tongue, and large salivary glands that includes the giant anteater and tamandua

b

: pangolin

c

: echidna

d

: aardvark

Examples of anteater in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Big Dipper actually forms only the rear part of the bear, although, to my eyes, the larger constellation looks more like an anteater than a bear. —Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025

The zoo noted that a sloth bear has more in common with an anteater since both species use their long noses to hunt for food. —Kerry Breen, CBS News, 14 Feb. 2025

Belonging to the same group of mammals as sloths and anteaters, armadillos are voracious insectivores that eat large numbers of beetles, grubs, ants, termites, and other insects, grabbing them with their sticky tongues. —Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 18 Sep. 2024

Despite their physical similarities to pigs and anteaters, Tapirs’ evolutionary lineage is distinct and ancient, having changed very little over the past 20 million years. —Jake Parks, Discover Magazine, 4 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1668, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing anteater

• giant anteater
• scaly anteater
• spiny anteater

Rhymes for anteater

• aliter
• ammeter
• completer
• demeter
• preheater
• repeater
• saltpetre
• ureter
• amphitheater
• centimeter
• centimetre
• decimeter

Kids Definition

anteater

noun

ant·​eat·​er ˈant-ˌēt-ər 

: any of several mammals (as an echidna or aardvark) that feed on ants