as in informants
a person who provides information about another's wrongdoing
a canary who was singing and giving up the names of some of the city's most notorious drug lords
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 canaries
Like canaries in the coal mine ocean form.
—
Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2025
During the late 19th and early 20th century, coal miners in Europe and North America used canaries as living carbon monoxide alarms.
—Big Think, 13 Oct. 2025
The outdoor areas are open from March through October, but available year-round is its Bolz Conservatory, a glass pyramid housing huge tropical plants, chirping canaries and darting quail.
—Peter Cameron, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
These early jolts serve as canaries in the coal mine.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2025
Incumbents know their districts best and can be canaries in the electoral coal mines, but those retirements may also put seats in play that would otherwise have been preserved.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 5 Sep. 2025
Media attention has focused on the travails of big cities such as Los Angeles, but smaller cities might be the canaries in the coal mine.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 6 Aug. 2025
Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2025
During the late 19th and early 20th century, coal miners in Europe and North America used canaries as living carbon monoxide alarms.
—Big Think, 13 Oct. 2025
The outdoor areas are open from March through October, but available year-round is its Bolz Conservatory, a glass pyramid housing huge tropical plants, chirping canaries and darting quail.
—Peter Cameron, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
These early jolts serve as canaries in the coal mine.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2025
Incumbents know their districts best and can be canaries in the electoral coal mines, but those retirements may also put seats in play that would otherwise have been preserved.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 5 Sep. 2025
Media attention has focused on the travails of big cities such as Los Angeles, but smaller cities might be the canaries in the coal mine.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 6 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for canaries
Noun
-
One of the agency’s informants attended the wedding, as a guest.—
Ed Caesar,
New Yorker,
20 Oct. 2025
-
Police learned in September that Garnett was selling meth and made several purchases of meth from Garnett using confidential informants, according to a probable cause affidavit.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The tales explore how the people/rats/cats who inhabit the house are driven by selfish desires — and how they are subsequently rewarded or punished by a twist of fate.—
Chris Snellgrove,
Entertainment Weekly,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Created by the visionary behind the Oscar-winning Pinocchio (2022), this Emmy-winning anthology horror series presents eight visually thrilling, nightmarish tales, ranging from colossal rats to alien parasites.—
Kelsie Gibson,
PEOPLE,
23 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Canaries.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/canaries. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share