as in creatures
one of the lower animals as distinguished from human beings
we saw a lot of animals at the wildlife refuge—cranes, alligators, deer, a fox, even an armadillo
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Recent Examples of animals
While her daughter and her friends were playing, Kerry noticed a snake in her garden and, knowing her brother liked animals and lived nearby, sought out his help.
—
Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 16 June 2026
An online fundraiser for Moore’s memorial describes him only as a 30-year-old man and includes pictures of his posing with animals and near his mother’s gravestone.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 16 June 2026
Other animals can crush the ultra-tough shells of pollen grains with teeth, jaws, or other similar body parts; butterflies have only a proboscis, a flexible, strawlike structure usually reserved for sipping liquid.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 16 June 2026
Sea turtles are some of the most endangered animals on the planet, and Kemp’s ridleys, the smallest species out of the bunch, are critically endangered.
—Pat Mueller, USA Today, 16 June 2026
Adult caimans consume a wider variety of prey than younger animals, further increasing their ability to thrive in different habitats.
—Sergio Candido, CBS News, 16 June 2026
One of the variables is that fish and water creatures typically do better than animals, and animals do better than people.
—Karen Idelson, Variety, 16 June 2026
Then the scientists watch as the fish brains manage the animals' busy social lives.
—Jon Hamilton, NPR, 16 June 2026
Since these bacteria live inside the animals’ bodies and are transferred to ensuing generations by being placed in their eggs, there are plenty of opportunities for horizontal gene transfer.
—John Timmer, ArsTechnica, 16 June 2026
Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 16 June 2026
An online fundraiser for Moore’s memorial describes him only as a 30-year-old man and includes pictures of his posing with animals and near his mother’s gravestone.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 16 June 2026
Other animals can crush the ultra-tough shells of pollen grains with teeth, jaws, or other similar body parts; butterflies have only a proboscis, a flexible, strawlike structure usually reserved for sipping liquid.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 16 June 2026
Sea turtles are some of the most endangered animals on the planet, and Kemp’s ridleys, the smallest species out of the bunch, are critically endangered.
—Pat Mueller, USA Today, 16 June 2026
Adult caimans consume a wider variety of prey than younger animals, further increasing their ability to thrive in different habitats.
—Sergio Candido, CBS News, 16 June 2026
One of the variables is that fish and water creatures typically do better than animals, and animals do better than people.
—Karen Idelson, Variety, 16 June 2026
Then the scientists watch as the fish brains manage the animals' busy social lives.
—Jon Hamilton, NPR, 16 June 2026
Since these bacteria live inside the animals’ bodies and are transferred to ensuing generations by being placed in their eggs, there are plenty of opportunities for horizontal gene transfer.
—John Timmer, ArsTechnica, 16 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for animals
Noun
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From a biodiversity standpoint, due to the warm waters, Kenya has everything from beautiful nudibranchs (colorful small creatures) to enormous whale sharks and manta rays, with everything in-between.—
Judy Koutsky,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2026
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There are also hopper toys that defy the typical ball design in favor of whimsical animals and mythical creatures.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
12 June 2026
Noun
-
The findings, detailed today in the Astrophysical Journal Letters, suggest not only that all black holes emit such a wind but also that these beasts are not total loners that are isolated from their environments.—
Jeanna Bryner,
Scientific American,
4 June 2026
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The beasts’ finale was a spectacular ending to a worthy show.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Animals.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/animals. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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