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There are three species of hyena— doglike carnivores found in Asia and Africa. Actually more closely related to cats than to dogs, hyenas have coarse fur, four toes on each foot, long forelegs, claws that do not retract, and enormously strong jaws and teeth. They live alone or in packs and may be active by night or day. Hyenas are noted for scavenging but will also attack live prey. The spotted, or laughing, hyena, whose calls alternately resemble wailing and maniacal laughter, ranges through much of sub-Saharan Africa. Yellowish or grayish with dark spots, it is about 6½ ft (1.8 m) long, including the 12-in (30-cm) tail, and weighs up to 175 lb (80 kg). The hyena has been known to attack people and even to carry off young children.
Examples of hyena in a Sentence
Diane J. Cho, People.com, 24 June 2025
There’s a scene in the movie where Scar is singing and a bunch of hyenas join him and start doing this marching choreography, the whole entire number was based on that part of the movie.
—Griselda Flores, Billboard, 30 May 2025
In South Africa, I was surrounded by a pack of hyenas for several nights in a row.
—Blair Braverman, Outside Online, 17 Apr. 2025
These adaptations contributed to its ability to crush bones, similar to modern hyenas, though its overall skull structure remained distinctly canid.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Hyena.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hyena. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.
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hyena
noun
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