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

When Martín is kidnapped by a monster, Cleo ventures into the jungle to rescue him, aided by an elderly witch and a naughty anteater. — Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 9 July 2026

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, 19 May 2026

The preserve is home to wild cats, anteaters, armadillos, and sloths. — Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 10 May 2026

While they're sometimes known as scaly anteaters, pangolins are not related in any way to anteaters or armadillos. — ABC News, 20 Feb. 2026

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
• voltmeter
• wattmeter
• amphitheater
• bolometer

Kids Definition

anteater

noun

ant·​eat·​er ˈant-ˌēt-ər 

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