: 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 VenkataramanExamples of dhole in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
See it In the Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong Landscape of northeastern India, researchers have rediscovered the Asiatic wild dog, or dhole, which was thought to be missing from the region since the 1990s.
—Miami Herald, 11 July 2025
From those two specimens, the Colossal team recovered enough DNA to create two dire wolf genomes to compare with other canid species, including coyotes, jackals, dholes and other wolves.
—Brandi D. Addison, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
Captured by camera traps for the first time in October 2022, the images show an Asiatic wild dog, or dhole, passing in front of the lens, researchers said.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 27 June 2025
From those two specimens, Shapiro and the team at Colossal recovered enough DNA to create two dire wolf genomes to compare with other canid species including coyotes, jackals, dholes and, of course, other wolves, Shapiro said.
—Mike Snider, USA Today, 7 Apr. 2025
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Miami Herald, 11 July 2025
From those two specimens, the Colossal team recovered enough DNA to create two dire wolf genomes to compare with other canid species, including coyotes, jackals, dholes and other wolves.
—Brandi D. Addison, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
Captured by camera traps for the first time in October 2022, the images show an Asiatic wild dog, or dhole, passing in front of the lens, researchers said.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 27 June 2025
From those two specimens, Shapiro and the team at Colossal recovered enough DNA to create two dire wolf genomes to compare with other canid species including coyotes, jackals, dholes and, of course, other wolves, Shapiro said.
—Mike Snider, USA Today, 7 Apr. 2025
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
Cite this Entry
“Dhole.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dhole. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share