carnivore

noun

Definition of carnivorenext
as in omnivore
an animal that eats meat; a meat eater
—sometimes used humorously to refer to people who eat meat Many of my friends are vegetarians, but I'm a carnivore.

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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 carnivore Glyphosate and phthalates Although cats are carnivores, many manufacturers add produce to cat food for its antioxidants, minerals and vitamins. — Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2026 If the tuft is real feathers, with barbs around a shaft, Gonzo sits on the lineage that produced theropod dinosaurs—two-legged carnivores like Tyrannosaurus—and eventually birds. — Niranjana Rajalakshmi, Popular Science, 24 Sep. 2026 Evidence from fireplaces, animal remains, carnivores, and even owl pellets suggested that people occupied it only briefly. — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 18 Sep. 2026 As prices have soared, Americans' appetites for beef has increased along with trends like carnivore diets and protein-maxxing. — Israel Schuman, Des Moines Register, 9 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for carnivore
Recent Examples of Synonyms for carnivore
  1. omnivore
  2. animal
  3. insectivore
  4. creature
  5. critter
  6. beastie
Noun
  • The speckled omnivores can weigh upwards of 10 pounds, largely thanks to a diet that regularly includes eggs, small animals, fruits, and vegetables.
    — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 3 June 2026
  • North American river otters are omnivores, feeding on fish, turtles, crabs, mollusks, birds, oysters, shellfish, crayfish, frogs, rodents and insects.
    — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 22 Apr. 2026
Definition of omnivore
Noun
  • Officials said a child may have come into contact with that animal.
    — Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Under the cover of night, Orwell’s pigs paint new words onto the side of the barn where the rules governing all the animals are listed.
    — Chris John Amorosino, Hartford Courant, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of animal
Noun
  • Belonging to the same group of mammals as sloths and anteaters, armadillos are voracious insectivores that eat large numbers of beetles, grubs, ants, termites, and other insects, grabbing them with their sticky tongues.
    — Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 19 May 2026
  • Many of the bird species migrating through the Midwest are insectivores, living in the neotropics in winter to have food for survival.
    — Sheryl De Vore, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2026
Definition of insectivore
Noun
  • As temperatures drop in fall, outdoor creatures like mice are frequently drawn towards the warmth and comfort of our homes.
    — Abby Monteil, The Spruce, 5 Nov. 2026
  • The Magic 9, the successor to the Magic 8 Pro, looks like a triple-eyed, moss-green robo-creature designed to blend in with an overgrown, post-apocalyptic wasteland.
    — Kimberly Gedeon, PC Magazine, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of creature
Noun
  • In less than two months, a different camera stationed not far from the southern end of the crossing picked up a plethora of critters, including a mountain lion with two older kittens and another uncollared lion.
    — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2026
  • After all, the birds and critters that frequent your backyard might enjoy the fruit as much as you.
    — Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 31 Oct. 2026
Definition of critter
Noun
  • Greg and Denise are having some marital issues, but everybody needs to put other concerns aside to stay alive with nasty raptors and other hungry beasties around.
    — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 15 Aug. 2026
  • And when that happens, astronomers will set about studying these new beasties with other eyes on the sky to learn more about them and hopefully understand them.
    — Phil Plait, Scientific American, 24 July 2026
Definition of beastie

Browse Nearby Words

carnivals
carnivore
carnivores
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Cite this Entry

“Carnivore.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/carnivore. Accessed 8 Nov. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on carnivore

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about carnivore

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