as in omnivores
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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Recent Examples of carnivores
What to know about mountain lions Mountain lions are known as solitary and elusive carnivores found across diverse habitats, mainly in the western United States.
—
Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 5 Apr. 2026
The word mongoose refers to any of nearly three dozen species of small mammalian carnivores found mainly in Africa but also in southern Asia and southern Europe.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Mar. 2026
Since the 1950s, coyotes have expanded their geographic range by about 40%, roughly twice the rate of other North American carnivores.
—Miriam Fauzia, Dallas Morning News, 26 Mar. 2026
There’s even a whole suborder of carnivores called the pinnipeds, which includes seals, sea lions, and walruses who move between land and water.
—Sara Kiley Watson, Popular Science, 18 Mar. 2026
Great for the paleo carnivores.
—Peter Burke, FOXNews.com, 16 Mar. 2026
For too long, Wyoming has been an outlier in tolerating extreme cruelty toward its wild carnivores.
—Wendy Keefover, Denver Post, 10 Mar. 2026
Salty Parmesan, spicy baby arugula leaves, and creamy white beans combine to form a hearty salad perfect for vegetarian guests or carnivores craving greens.
—Josh Miller, Southern Living, 5 Mar. 2026
Nile monitor lizards, powerful carnivores that can grow longer than six feet, are spreading through South Florida, earning a reputation from wildlife officials as one of the most dangerous invasive reptiles in the state.
—Sergio Candido, Miami Herald, 24 Feb. 2026
Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 5 Apr. 2026
The word mongoose refers to any of nearly three dozen species of small mammalian carnivores found mainly in Africa but also in southern Asia and southern Europe.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Mar. 2026
Since the 1950s, coyotes have expanded their geographic range by about 40%, roughly twice the rate of other North American carnivores.
—Miriam Fauzia, Dallas Morning News, 26 Mar. 2026
There’s even a whole suborder of carnivores called the pinnipeds, which includes seals, sea lions, and walruses who move between land and water.
—Sara Kiley Watson, Popular Science, 18 Mar. 2026
Great for the paleo carnivores.
—Peter Burke, FOXNews.com, 16 Mar. 2026
For too long, Wyoming has been an outlier in tolerating extreme cruelty toward its wild carnivores.
—Wendy Keefover, Denver Post, 10 Mar. 2026
Salty Parmesan, spicy baby arugula leaves, and creamy white beans combine to form a hearty salad perfect for vegetarian guests or carnivores craving greens.
—Josh Miller, Southern Living, 5 Mar. 2026
Nile monitor lizards, powerful carnivores that can grow longer than six feet, are spreading through South Florida, earning a reputation from wildlife officials as one of the most dangerous invasive reptiles in the state.
—Sergio Candido, Miami Herald, 24 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for carnivores
Noun
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The 49-year-old from Carver, Massachusetts is accused of running a dogfighting operation for years; breeding and training dogs for violence and subjecting the animals to disturbing and cruel conditions and punishment.—
Juli McDonald,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
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The movie depicts grisly scenes of death, torture and dismemberment involving humans and animals.—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Make Sure Your Problem Is Gophers Gophers are not the only tunneling creatures that can make a mess of your lawn.—
David Beaulieu,
The Spruce,
11 Apr. 2026
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Then there are the creatures that love to feast on the fruits, like squirrels, birds, and deer.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
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International Dark Sky Week — from April 13 to 20 — is an annual event that celebrates the nighttime hours, when the world is dark and quiet, nocturnal critters emerge and stars become visible.—
Maura Fox,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Apr. 2026
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The dog would charge up the hillside looking for lizards and other critters while the other dogs played together at the bottom.—
Mindy Schauer,
Oc Register,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Carnivores.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/carnivores. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
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