anteater

noun

ant·​eat·​er ˈant-ˌē-tər How to pronounce anteater (audio)
: 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
c
d

Examples of anteater in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Tests found that the rabies virus that infected the anteater was most similar to variants found among wild raccoons in Virginia — suggesting the anteater was infected in Virginia. Andrew Joseph, STAT, 19 Apr. 2022 Another, curious example is Mononykus, which roamed modern day China and Mongolia during the late cretaceous period and had an adaption somewhat similar to an anteater, according to Frederickson. Sean Mowbray, Discover Magazine, 19 June 2023 Scientists have even found SARS-CoV-2 in armadillos, anteaters, otters and manatees, among others. Melissa Healy, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2023 Pets like cats, dogs and hamsters; zoo animals such as big cats, primates and hippos; farmed mink; and wildlife such as deer and anteaters are among the animals in which Covid-19 infections have been reported. Katherine Dillinger, CNN, 9 Mar. 2023 Deep within the nest and with thicker walls, this chamber protects the queen and the king if, say, an anteater takes a swipe. Elizabeth Preston, New York Times, 5 May 2023 The possum-size critters—nearly blind and resembling a cross between an anteater and a giant potato bug—have been creeping north from Texas for decades and in recent years have made a home in the Land of Lincoln, tearing up yards, drawing puzzled looks and littering highways with their carcasses. Joe Barrett, WSJ, 27 Sep. 2022 This insectivorous African animal uses that glorious and elongated nose to hunt down spiders, worms, and insects, and then suck them up like an anteater does. Discover Magazine, 29 June 2010 Head inland to catch a glimpse of anteaters, sloths, monkeys, and bats. Tasha Zemke, Outside Online, 6 Feb. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'anteater.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1668, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of anteater was in 1668

Dictionary Entries Near anteater

Cite this Entry

“Anteater.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anteater. Accessed 21 Sep. 2023.

Kids Definition

anteater

noun
ant·​eat·​er ˈant-ˌēt-ər How to pronounce anteater (audio)
: any of several mammals (as an echidna or aardvark) that feed on ants

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