CARNIVOROUS Synonyms: 18 Similar and Opposite Words

carnivorous

adjective

Definition of carnivorous

as in aggressive

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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 carnivorous Advertisement The manosphere is drenched in blood-red carnivorous encomiums. — Michael Kimmel, Time, 15 Aug. 2026 Rescuing the Venus fly trap The carnivorous Venus fly trap is native to the Carolinas, but its population is dwindling due to loss of habitat. — David Morgan, CBS News, 7 Aug. 2026 Firefly larvae, on the other hand, are usually carnivorous and may feed on soft-bodied insects, slugs, snails, and worms. — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 July 2026 The bloody red shrimp are herbivores when young, feeding on phytoplankton, and then add carnivorous activity as adults, adding zooplankton to their diet. — Keith Matheny, Freep.com, 3 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for carnivorous

Recent Examples of Synonyms for carnivorous

Adjective

The customized coupe features a T-top roof, aggressive aero body kit, and a graphics package that could have appeared in the original The Fast and the Furious.

— Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 24 Sep. 2026
At 5-10, 198 pounds, Parrish mostly played nickel corner in Todd Bowles’ aggressive scheme and shined as a rookie.

— PJ Green September 24, Kansas City Star, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of aggressive

Adjective

The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index weathered a savage 30% drawdown, has been choppily trendless for two months, then in recent days finally broke above its downtrend and surmounted the 50-day moving average.

— Michael Santoli, CNBC, 22 Sep. 2026
Hamilton lets down Claire’s savage hauteur; Mays’ eyes glisten with all the regrets of lost love.

— Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of savage

Adjective

For this argument Thomasine was jailed—stuffed into a damp, stinking, deadly stone cell crawling with rats and lice—to force her to change her beliefs.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026
Bands of heavy rain have been moving onshore from Delaware up to Massachusetts on Sunday amid a nor'easter that has turned deadly.

— ABC News, ABC News, 27 Sep. 2026

Definition of deadly

Adjective

The shootings come amid a much wider problem with violent crime.

— Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 23 Sep. 2026
Authorities served the search warrant after identifying Saeturn as a suspect in an investigation into violent online threats against a church, though police did not identify the place of worship.

— Madison Smalstig, Sacbee.com, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of violent

Adjective

Pursuing Leamas and Doris are Josef Fiedler and Hans-Dieter Mundt, two Stasi operatives whose ferocious desire to shut down the intelligence leak is matched only by their internal rivalry and an iron will to outmatch each other.

— Max Goldbart, Deadline, 28 Sep. 2026
Pursuing Leamas and Doris are Josef Fiedler (Brühl) and Hans-Dieter Mundt (Kammerer), two Stasi operatives whose ferocious desire to shut down the intelligence leak is matched only by their internal rivalry and an iron will to outmatch each other.

— Alex Ritman, Variety, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of ferocious

Adjective

However, the leap from these qualities to assuming, hyperbolically, that AI will become a competitor, even a predatory species ready to eliminate us, is a fantastical step too far.

— Keith Tidman, Baltimore Sun, 24 Sep. 2026
That’s why Meta has agreed to pay up to eighteen billion dollars as part of a settlement over predatory and deceptive practices, and why Anthropic is paying writers and publishers (admittedly, pennies) in a copyright settlement.

— Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of predatory

Adjective

Economists expect Beijing to lean harder on stimulus to stabilize corporate profitability, as consolidation accelerates in sectors already facing sluggish demand, fierce competition and cutthroat price wars.

— Anniek Bao, CNBC, 28 Sep. 2026
There has been fierce fighting on Yemen's Red Sea coast as government forces attempt to reverse recent Houthi advances.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of fierce

Adjective

And as independent news sites go belly-up as a result of a lack of traffic, rapacious AI entrepreneurs are circling like buzzards.

— Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 24 Sep. 2026
All this rapacious consumerism sits somewhat awkwardly alongside Hermès’s image of Old World gentility.

— Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of rapacious

Browse Nearby Words

carnivores

carnivorous

caroche

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Carnivorous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/carnivorous. Accessed 29 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of carnivorous

adjective

Example Sentences

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