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Many herbivorous animals, such as rabbits, deer, sheep, and cows, are noted for their gentle and passive ways. But such behavior is not universal among herbivores. Rhinoceroses and elephants, for instance, are capable of inflicting serious damage if threatened, and among dinosaurs, the herbivorous Diplodocus had a thick tail that could be used as a lethal weapon against attacking carnivores. Herbivorous humans are usually called vegetarians.
Examples of herbivorous in a Sentence
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Unlike many of its meat-eating relatives, this creature may have been omnivorous or herbivorous.
—
Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 6 Mar. 2026
That suggests Tanyka may have been omnivorous or herbivorous — a departure from many of its meat-eating relatives.
—Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 6 Mar. 2026
This suggests the animal may have eaten tough plant material and small invertebrates with hard shells, making Tanyka possibly omnivorous or herbivorous, unlike many of its meat-eating relatives.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 2026
According to preliminary analysis, it’s thought that most of the tracks came from herbivorous prosauropods: long-necked, plant-eating dinosaurs.
—Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 18 Dec. 2025
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Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 6 Mar. 2026
That suggests Tanyka may have been omnivorous or herbivorous — a departure from many of its meat-eating relatives.
—Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 6 Mar. 2026
This suggests the animal may have eaten tough plant material and small invertebrates with hard shells, making Tanyka possibly omnivorous or herbivorous, unlike many of its meat-eating relatives.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 2026
According to preliminary analysis, it’s thought that most of the tracks came from herbivorous prosauropods: long-necked, plant-eating dinosaurs.
—Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 18 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for herbivorous
Cite this Entry
“Herbivorous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/herbivorous. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
herbivorous
adjective
her·biv·o·rous
ˌ(h)ər-ˈbiv-ə-rəs 
: eating or living on plants
Medical Definition
herbivorous
adjective
her·biv·o·rous
ˌ(h)ər-ˈbiv-ə-rəs
1
: feeding on plants
herbivorous mammals
2
: having a stout body and a long small intestine : endomorphic
herbivorously
adverb
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