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altricial

adjective

Definition of altricialnext
as in self-sufficient

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Example Sentences

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 altricial Birth simulations even reveal that even Australopithecus, with a relatively small brain by modern standards, already faced sufficient obstetrical constraint to require the delivery of secondarily altricial infants. — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 3 May 2026 Plenty of other creatures give birth even sooner, yielding offspring in a more altricial state. — Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 14 Oct. 2022 Robins, bluebirds, hummingbirds and many other birds are altricial. — Jim Robbins, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Jan. 2022 If birds are born altricial — helpless — clutches tend to be small to accommodate the higher level of care the babies must receive. — Jim Williams, Star Tribune, 29 June 2021 That’s because both marmosets and humans have altricial babies, from the Latin for needing nourishment—meaning offspring that can’t take care of themselves even a tiny bit at the beginning. — Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, 27 Oct. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for altricial
  1. self-sufficient
  2. autonomous
  3. independent
  4. self-sustaining
  5. semiautonomous
  6. unsociable
Adjective
  • Graise knows just what to do with a role like Philip, who is seen as kindly and self-sufficient but insecure and treated unjustly by the community.
    — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Being needed is her reason for waking up in the morning, but Irene is away and self-sufficient Altea is busy with her friends.
    — Jay Weissberg, Variety, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of self-sufficient
Adjective
  • Yet China itself has developed AI safety frameworks addressing autonomous agents and the risk of AI escaping human control.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 19 Sep. 2026
  • That means more people could soon encounter autonomous robots during an ordinary walk.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of autonomous
Adjective
  • The native people of this region were not wiped out by smallpox and instead established an independent kingdom that blends a traditional monarchy with Catholicism, thanks to the efforts of some earlier missionaries.
    — John Warner, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2026
  • New this year is Queer Family, dedicated to kids and their families, with a focus on culturally enriching independent films that explore themes of inclusion and identity.
    — Ed Meza, Variety, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of independent
Adjective
  • Your best chance of spotting a whooping crane is along the Texas coast, where the world’s only self-sustaining wild population returns each winter after migrating from Canada.
    — Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 June 2026
  • Feral populations spring up as result of these self-sustaining domestic animals fending for themselves.
    — Madeline Gunderson, USA Today, 17 June 2026
Definition of self-sustaining
Adjective
  • The elections produced semiautonomous administrations in Scotland and Wales led by parties devoted to independence and the breakup of the United Kingdom - though neither has that policy on the front burner.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 9 May 2026
  • UAVs may be remotely piloted, semiautonomous, or, increasingly, fully autonomous.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 May 2026
Definition of semiautonomous
Adjective
  • Hospitality fared well in Deputy’s study, making up half of the 10 happiest job sectors, despite the sector’s reputation for high stress, unsociable hours, and low pay.
    — Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2025
  • To drink too much would be inexcusable; to drink too little would be unsociable.
    — Erika Page, The Christian Science Monitor, 2 Feb. 2024
Definition of unsociable

Browse Nearby Words

altogether
altricial
altruism
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Cite this Entry

“Altricial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/altricial. Accessed 23 Sep. 2026.

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