tiger

noun

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ti·ger | \ ˈtī-gər

plural tigers

Definition of tiger

1 plural also tiger

a : a large Asian carnivorous mammal (Panthera tigris) of the cat family having a usually tawny coat transversely striped with black

b : any of several large wildcats (such as the jaguar or cougar)

c : a domestic cat with striped pattern

d Australia : tasmanian tiger

2a : a fierce, daring, or aggressive person or quality aroused the tiger in him a tiger for work

b : someone or something (such as a situation) that is formidable or impossible to control how the tiger of inflation can be tamed— J. A. Davenport —often used in the phrases ride a tiger and have a tiger by the tail

3 British : a groom in livery

Other Words from tiger Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about tiger

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Other Words from tiger

tigerish \ ˈtī-g(ə-)rish

\ adjective

tigerishly adverb

tigerishness noun

tigerlike \ ˈtī-gər-ˌlīk

\ adjective

Synonyms & Antonyms for tiger

Synonyms

Antonyms

milquetoast

Examples of tiger in a Sentence

He was a tiger on the basketball court. even the best defense can't keep that tiger from scoring

Recent Examples on the Web Based on subtle differences in tooth and vertebra appearance, Gilson identified at least 47 sharks from 15 different species, including hammerhead, tiger and great white—creatures that grow more than ten feet long and weigh over 1,000 pounds. — Bridget Alex, Smithsonian Magazine, "Why Did Ancient Indigenous Groups in Brazil Hunt Sharks?," 8 Feb. 2021 Then silently, swiftly, a tiger named Calisto crossed the hillside, pouncing on the toy. — Jenna Ross, Star Tribune, "Minnesota Orchestra plays with tigers and bears for its first TV children's concert," 8 Feb. 2021 His affinity for Princeton prompted him to have the school’s mascot, a tiger, tattooed on his posterior, a fact confirmed to reporters decades later by his wife aboard a plane taking them to China. — Matthew Lee, ajc, "Longtime Reagan Secretary of State George Shultz dies at 100," 7 Feb. 2021 His affinity for Princeton prompted him to have the school’s mascot, a tiger, tattooed on his posterior, a fact confirmed to reporters decades later by his wife aboard a plane taking them to China. — Matthew Lee, Chron, "Reagan's longtime secretary of state George P. Shultz dies," 7 Feb. 2021 His affinity for Princeton prompted him to have the school's mascot, a tiger, tattooed on his posterior, a fact confirmed to reporters decades later by his wife aboard a plane taking them to China. — Arkansas Online, "Reagan's longtime secretary of state George P. Shultz dies," 7 Feb. 2021 His affinity for Princeton prompted him to have the school’s mascot, a tiger, tattooed on his posterior, a fact confirmed to reporters decades later by his wife aboard a plane taking them to China. — Matthew Lee, The Christian Science Monitor, "George P. Shultz: An American titan of building global trust," 7 Feb. 2021 Animal Care Services is investigating the report of a tiger cub within San Antonio city limits. — Vincent T. Davis, San Antonio Express-News, "Animal Care Services investigating report of tiger cub sighting on San Antonio's Southwest Side," 6 Feb. 2021 At the end of Life of Pi, Yann Martel’s novel about a boy who is trapped on a boat with a tiger, disbelieving investigators force the protagonist to tell them what really happened. — Tom Mctague, The Atlantic, "The Fight Over Britain’s Pandemic Myth," 26 Jan. 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'tiger.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.