: a wild dog (Cuon alpinus) occurring from India to southern Siberia that typically hunts in packs and often preys on large animals (such as deer and antelope)
Among the dhole's most distinctive features is its whistle—a high-pitched call apparently used to coordinate cooperative hunting.—
Arun Venkataraman
Arun Venkataraman
Examples of dhole in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Cuddly red pandas, which have ample undercoats, face natural predation from leopards and dholes, aka Asiatic wild dogs.
—Matt Hrodey, Discover Magazine, 9 May 2023
With over 40 different varieties of mammal found within the park, visitors are able to spot sloth bears, gaur, dhole, and even the barasingha, a large wetland deer that was once common throughout central and northern India.
—Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 28 Apr. 2021
Despite this massive effort, the researchers only registered four dhole sightings, 11 wolf sightings, 45 leopard sightings and 309 snow leopard sightings.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN, 4 Aug. 2020
Gray says dholes are thought to be extinct in Vietnam and are likely to become extinct in Laos.
—Sarah Lazarus, CNN, 16 Oct. 2019
The dhole -- a tawny-colored wild dog -- is also highly endangered.
—Sarah Lazarus, CNN, 16 Oct. 2019
Dholes hunt cooperatively, breaking into smaller groups to surround prey animals hidden deep in the vegetation.
—National Geographic, 26 Apr. 2017
For five of the seventeen predators—clouded leopard, Sunda clouded leopard, tiger, dhole (a wild Asian dog), and Ethiopian wolf—
—National Geographic, 3 Aug. 2016
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Matt Hrodey, Discover Magazine, 9 May 2023
With over 40 different varieties of mammal found within the park, visitors are able to spot sloth bears, gaur, dhole, and even the barasingha, a large wetland deer that was once common throughout central and northern India.
—Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 28 Apr. 2021
Despite this massive effort, the researchers only registered four dhole sightings, 11 wolf sightings, 45 leopard sightings and 309 snow leopard sightings.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN, 4 Aug. 2020
Gray says dholes are thought to be extinct in Vietnam and are likely to become extinct in Laos.
—Sarah Lazarus, CNN, 16 Oct. 2019
The dhole -- a tawny-colored wild dog -- is also highly endangered.
—Sarah Lazarus, CNN, 16 Oct. 2019
Dholes hunt cooperatively, breaking into smaller groups to surround prey animals hidden deep in the vegetation.
—National Geographic, 26 Apr. 2017
For five of the seventeen predators—clouded leopard, Sunda clouded leopard, tiger, dhole (a wild Asian dog), and Ethiopian wolf—
—National Geographic, 3 Aug. 2016
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dhole.' 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
perhaps from Kannada tōḷa wolf
First Known Use
circa 1827, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near dhole
Cite this Entry
“Dhole.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dhole. Accessed 7 Dec. 2023.
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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about dhole
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