carnivorous
adjective
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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
Aaron Boorstein, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 May 2024
In the last few years, H5N1 has spread from wild birds to a variety of carnivorous mammals, including foxes, bears, and seals, but in each of those instances, the virus has hit a dead end.
—Megan Molteni, STAT, 2 May 2024
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
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.
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Cite this Entry
“Carnivorous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carnivorous. Accessed 10 May. 2024.
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carnivorous
adjective
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carnivorous
adjective
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