critter

noun

crit·​ter ˈkri-tər 

informal

: an animal : creature sense 1

Most of her sublime illustrations involve hippos and pigs, which are appealing critters, especially when they have a few chocolate smudges around the mouth.

—People Weekly

When the wind is blowing just so, the field is set afire on three sides, and all manner of critters get flushed out of one end—snakes, possums, raccoons, and rabbits, lots of rabbits.

—Alexander Wolff

Flies, gnats, mosquitoes, ticks, mites and lice pester your horse year-round. If you ignore them, these critters can cause your equine friend months of misery.

—Charlene Strickland

—sometimes used of a person

Sale admits that humans, being the relatively big-brained critters we are, cannot do without technology …

—M. Kujawa

Synonyms of critter

• animal
• creature

Examples of critter in a Sentence

The woods are filled with skunks, raccoons, and other critters.

she's so fond of every kind of critter that she ought to be a veterinarian

Recent Examples on the Web

Anything that retains moisture is enticing to springtails, as well as other critters such as silverfish, book lice, and millepedes. — Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 10 Sep. 2026

Similarly, all types of daffodils — from demure jonquils to giant trumpet types — contain bitter, toxic properties that most critters know to avoid. — ABC News, 8 Sep. 2026

Near the end of the fourth episode of Adults season 2, a threesome between housemates is interrupted by a furry critter. — Tiffany Kelly, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Sep. 2026

These critters may look cute and cuddly, but their sharp claws are anything but. — Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 30 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

by alteration

First Known Use

1815, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for critter

• bitter
• fitter
• fritter
• glitter
• hitter
• jitter
• knitter
• litter
• quitter
• ritter
• splitter
• titter

Kids Definition

critter

noun

crit·​ter ˈkrit-ər 

informal

: creature