carnivorous

adjective

car·​niv·​o·​rous kär-ˈni-v(ə-)rəs How to pronounce carnivorous (audio)
1
: subsisting or feeding on animal tissues
2
of a plant : subsisting on nutrients obtained from the breakdown of animal protoplasm (as of insects)
3
: of or relating to the carnivores
4
carnivorously adverb
carnivorousness noun
carnivory noun

Did you know?

The order of mammals that Linnaeus named the Carnivora includes such families as the dogs, the bears, the raccoons, the weasels, the hyenas, the cats, and the seals. Most carnivores eat only meat in the wild, but some have varied diets; some bears, for instance, normally eat far more vegetation than meat. Carnivores have powerful jaws and complex teeth, and most are highly intelligent. Humans, like their ape cousins, are basically omnivores.

Examples of carnivorous in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The carnivorous abelisaurs were counterparts to the tyrannosaurs about 66 million years ago, towards the end of the Cretaceous period. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 24 Aug. 2023 The exhibit features hundreds of live carnivorous plants, along with bigger-than-life re-creations of several species, so visitors can learn about the plants up close from a bugs-eye perspective. The San Diego Union-Tribune Staff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Sep. 2023 Emily Felch and mother Marcy’s curiosity shop is full of taxidermy, carnivorous plants, bones, and skulls. Krista Simmons, Sunset Magazine, 17 Apr. 2023 Bleu and Wu will take to the stage alongside Audrey II, the famous carnivorous plant, starting Sept. 26, according to the show's Instagram post. Kimi Robinson, USA TODAY, 28 Aug. 2023 The musical, which centers on a hapless florist, Seymour, his co-worker, Audrey, and their discovery of a carnivorous plant, first premiered off-Broadway in 1982. Caitlin Huston, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Aug. 2023 The rotten smell attracts pollinators including flesh flies, dung beetles, and other carnivorous insects. Daniel Kool, BostonGlobe.com, 23 July 2023 Jenn Burt, a vegan with a carnivorous husband and four young kids, hoped the latest AI tools would take some stress out of meal planning. Alex Janin, WSJ, 14 Aug. 2023 These bone markings are modern, including bite marks from various carnivorous animals and cut marks from tools. Brian Handwerk, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 June 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'carnivorous.' 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

Latin carnivorus, from carn-, caro + -vorus -vorous

First Known Use

1592, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of carnivorous was in 1592

Dictionary Entries Near carnivorous

Cite this Entry

“Carnivorous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carnivorous. Accessed 4 Oct. 2023.

Kids Definition

carnivorous

adjective
car·​niv·​o·​rous kär-ˈniv-(ə-)rəs How to pronounce carnivorous (audio)
1
a
: feeding on animal tissues
b
: trapping and digesting insects
carnivorous plants
2
: of or relating to the carnivores

Medical Definition

carnivorous

adjective
car·​niv·​o·​rous kär-ˈniv-(ə-)rəs How to pronounce carnivorous (audio)
1
: subsisting or feeding on animal tissues
2
: of or relating to the carnivores
carnivorously adverb
carnivorousness noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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