spotted hyena
noun
: a hyena (Crocuta crocuta) of sub-Saharan Africa that has a tan to reddish-brown coat with dark roundish spots, a large head, long muzzle, powerful jaws, and rounded ears
Note: In addition to being an efficient scavenger, the spotted hyena is a skilled hunter, preying on various large animals (such as wildebeests, gazelles, and zebras). The spotted hyena communicates using a variety of vocalizations including groans, squeals, laughs, whoops, and growls.
It's never wise to make a spotted hyena nervous. Among the deadliest of African predators, they can eat and digest whole carcasses, including skin and bones.—
Natural History
Natural History… female spotted hyenas are bigger and more aggressive than males. Every clan is a matriarchy ruled by an alpha female.—Steve Kemper
Steve KemperBiologists remained unsure why spotted hyenas giggle but theorized that the giggles may express frustration.—Harper's Magazine
Harper's Magazinecalled also laughing hyena
Examples of spotted hyena in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
For the study, researchers looked at 1,376 vertebrate species known to eat some amount of carrion, ranging from tiger sharks and spotted hyenas to cane toads and common shrews.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 June 2025
Raccoons, coyotes, spotted hyenas, and humans are all known to adapt their hunting strategies.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 18 Dec. 2024
The ungulates in turn attract predators such as spotted hyenas and lions.
—Zhengyang Wang, Scientific American, 2 Oct. 2024
Aside from having a high concentration of leopards, there are lions, elephants, buffaloes, spotted hyenas, Thornicroft's giraffes, zebras, and wild dogs, as well as hundreds of bird species, including various eagles, kingfishers, and herons.
—Heather Richardson, Travel + Leisure, 17 May 2021
Take the female African spotted hyena.
—Katie Hunt, CNN, 12 June 2022
This spotted hyena is the lowest-ranking member of the Highway Clan, an urban group in Harar, Ethiopia.
—Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Jan. 2023
These include the Asian short-clawed otter, spotted hyena, spotted linsang (a beautiful tree-climbing civet), fossa (a Madagascan mongoose-relative) and three sea-going hunters – the sea lion, the fur seal, and the Pacific harbour seal.
—Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 13 Mar. 2012
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.
Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 June 2025
Raccoons, coyotes, spotted hyenas, and humans are all known to adapt their hunting strategies.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 18 Dec. 2024
The ungulates in turn attract predators such as spotted hyenas and lions.
—Zhengyang Wang, Scientific American, 2 Oct. 2024
Aside from having a high concentration of leopards, there are lions, elephants, buffaloes, spotted hyenas, Thornicroft's giraffes, zebras, and wild dogs, as well as hundreds of bird species, including various eagles, kingfishers, and herons.
—Heather Richardson, Travel + Leisure, 17 May 2021
Take the female African spotted hyena.
—Katie Hunt, CNN, 12 June 2022
This spotted hyena is the lowest-ranking member of the Highway Clan, an urban group in Harar, Ethiopia.
—Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Jan. 2023
These include the Asian short-clawed otter, spotted hyena, spotted linsang (a beautiful tree-climbing civet), fossa (a Madagascan mongoose-relative) and three sea-going hunters – the sea lion, the fur seal, and the Pacific harbour seal.
—Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 13 Mar. 2012
Cite this Entry
“Spotted hyena.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spotted%20hyena. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share