plural donkeys
1
: the domestic ass (Equus asinus)
2
: a stupid or obstinate person

Examples of donkey in a Sentence

we put our bags on the donkey and headed down the canyon called him a donkey when he refused to go along with their plans
Recent Examples on the Web Gaza becomes ‘a graveyard for children’ as Israel intensifies airstrikes Before the war, even during previous wars, donkey carts and Toyotas shouldered past each other in Gaza City’s chaotic intersections. Steve Hendrix, Washington Post, 19 Nov. 2023 Most of the people evacuated via foot or donkey carts, the report, published today, said. NBC News, 11 Nov. 2023 There are a number of small villages on the island, each with its own atmosphere, beaches, seasonal markets, and seafood restaurants — all best discovered by two wheels through vineyards and the occasional field of donkeys. Sara Lieberman, Travel + Leisure, 25 Oct. 2023 And, in her position as patron of the equine welfare charity Brooke, she will also be taken to see how the charity is working with the Kenya Society for the Protection and Care of Animals to rescue donkeys at risk and promote their welfare. Simon Perry, Peoplemag, 11 Oct. 2023 Some rode on donkey carts but most were walking, down Salah Al-Din Road, named for the 12th century Muslim sultan and conqueror — known in the West as Saladin — who captured Jerusalem from the Crusaders. Vivian Yee, New York Times, 8 Nov. 2023 More than half — 1,050 — are children, the agency said, adding that lack of fuel had hampered rescue efforts, with anecdotal evidence suggesting injured people are increasingly relying on donkey carts to evacuate. Karen Deyoung, Washington Post, 1 Nov. 2023 Some civilians were using their bare hands to pull injured people from the rubble and loading them into personal cars or donkey carts. Isabel Debre, Julia Frankel and Samy Magdy The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 29 Oct. 2023 Schwarzenegger – who is grandfather to daughter Katherine Schwarzenegger’s two children with Chris Pratt, Lyla and Eloise – says three-year-old Lyla is especially fond of his many pets, which includes a dog, a miniature horse, a donkey and a pig. Dan Heching, CNN, 30 Sep. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'donkey.' 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

origin unknown

First Known Use

circa 1785, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of donkey was circa 1785

Dictionary Entries Near donkey

Cite this Entry

“Donkey.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/donkey. Accessed 9 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

donkey

noun
plural donkeys
1
: a sturdy domestic mammal that is classified with the asses and is used especially to carry things
2
: a stupid or stubborn person

More from Merriam-Webster on donkey

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