Thesaurus results for HOMO SAPIENS

Homo sapiens

noun

ˌhō-(ˌ)mō-ˈsā-pē-ˌenz

Definition of Homo sapiens

as in mankind

the human race how far into the outer reaches of the universe will Homo sapiens someday be able to go?

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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.

Recent Examples of Homo sapiens As the Neanderthals gradually disappeared around 40,000 years ago—partly due to competition with our own species—Homo sapiens began taking shelter-building in new directions. — Literary Hub, 1 May 2026 Yunxian 2 provides a clearer example of an earlier lineage, suggesting that several major human lineages—Homo sapiens, Neanderthals, and sister species like Homo longi—may have co-existed for hundreds of thousands of years, interacting and potentially interbreeding. — Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 27 Sep. 2025 Homo sapiens are highly socialized animals prone to cooperate when necessary. — Bruce Dorminey, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for Homo sapiens

Noun

Once-acceptable gendered terms, such as mankind and stewardess, have been replaced with alternatives.

— Jo Mackiewicz, The Conversation, 25 Aug. 2026
One of mankind’s most astonishing engineering feats, the canal has served as the connecting point between Pacific and Atlantic travel since 1914.

— DeMarco Williams, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of mankind

Noun

Totally ignoring the humanity of both worker and customer is rude, and yet both parties are interested in getting on with whatever the transaction is.

— Judith Martin, Mercury News, 25 Aug. 2026
The phenomenon may have a special appeal to youth in the region due to a culture of assembling in public areas, Frederick Luis Aldama, a humanities professor at the University of Texas at Austin, told CNN.

— Mitchell McCluskey, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of humanity

Noun

Computer programmer Fei Zhaojun’s boss asked him if artificial intelligence could soon replace humans in coding jobs.

— Chan Ho-Him, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2026
Instead of law enforcement, policing shifts to violent secure against mathematical possibility by acting against living humans now.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of human

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homos

Homo sapiens

hon

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“Homo sapiens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/Homo%20sapiens. Accessed 31 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of Homo sapiens

noun

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