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 In addition, much remains unknown about their diet, but they are considered carnivorous, researchers said. Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 19 Apr. 2024 Set in the dusty desert town of Perfection, Nev., the film features an eccentric cast — Kevin Bacon, Fred Ward, and country singer Reba McEntire — and a fun central antagonist: a race of giant carnivorous underground worms who are drawn to the surface by vibrations in the soil. Katie Rife, EW.com, 19 Oct. 2023 The one set creates nine different tiny plants in their pots, including arid, tropical, and carnivorous species. Alida Nugent, Peoplemag, 10 Apr. 2024 The explorers discover a carnivorous aquatic cicada believed to be a mutation of a similar species that inhabits the surface of the Tepuis but only feed on plants. Leo Barraclough, Variety, 3 Apr. 2024 Theropods were a group of bipedal, often carnivorous creatures that includes T. rex and all modern birds. Isaac Schultz / Gizmodo, Quartz, 28 Mar. 2024 Carpenter also mentions Godzilla's footprint has three toes, which indicates carnivorous dinosaurs who would have used their feet to hold down prey. Elizabeth Gamillo, Discover Magazine, 21 Mar. 2024 Seals, sea lions and walruses of every era still piled onto beaches to rest, reproduce and escape predators—from carnivorous walrus relatives of ages past to the elephant seals that shore up along the California coast each winter. Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Mar. 2024 This classic summer vacation spot is also home to natural gifts, including Carolina Beach State Park, with some of the area's finest fishing and the Flytrap Trail, named for the carnivorous Venus Flytrap plants along its path. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 4 Mar. 2024

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 27 Apr. 2024.

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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