cat

noun

ˈkat How to pronounce cat (audio)
Definition of catnext
1
as in kitten
a small domestic animal known for catching mice the family's cat did an exemplary job of keeping the house and yard free of all rodents

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in male
an adult male human being he was one cool cat driving around in his new sports car

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 cat Or leaving my backdoor open, so my cat Martini can escape—that’s stressful! — Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 7 Aug. 2026 The calico cat even has her own dedicated webpage on The Gardens at Unity Village website. — Janice Phelan, Kansas City Star, 7 Aug. 2026 Rose’s cat lost half her weight, and the company restored her to a healthy weight. — Maddie Rhodes, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2026 Players can encounter legendary cats from the books alongside an original cast for the game’s story. — Mya Copeland, Variety, 6 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cat
  1. kitten
  2. male
  3. kitty
  4. guy
  5. feline
  6. gentleman
  7. dude
Noun
  • Puppies, kittens, and adult pets have different nutritional needs.
    — Lauren Paige Richeson, USA Today, 27 July 2026
  • Puppies, kittens, senior pets, and brachycephalic breeds are at higher risk.
    — Jen Reeder, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
Definition of kitten
Noun
  • Kansas City Fire Department paramedics had transported the victim, an adult male, to a hospital before officers arrived.
    — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 31 July 2026
  • The driver is a 17-year-old male, and the victim is a 17-year-old female who is believed to have serious injuries.
    — Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 31 July 2026
Definition of male
Noun
  • What started as posting photos of her adorable kitty became a full-time career.
    — Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Vets recommend using pheromone sprays as a safer alternative to quell a kitty's anxiety.
    — Pat Mueller, USA Today, 28 July 2026
Definition of kitty
Noun
  • All these guys, all my teammates, all my coaches, everybody in this building loves it.
    — Sam Warren, New York Times, 7 Aug. 2026
  • In the back half of the show, the guys discuss the mood of the Orioles’ clubhouse following their trade deadline fire sale and take a look at the three players Baltimore acquired at the deadline amid its flurry of moves.
    — Matt Weyrich, Baltimore Sun, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of guy
Noun
  • Capsaicin, the natural chemical compound in chili peppers, can cause severe irritability in a feline's gastrointestinal system.
    — Pat Mueller, USA Today, 28 July 2026
  • On the flip side, grooming can also be used to send a stern message, the study found, particularly in the felines’ display of asymmetrical body postures such as one cat leaning over the other one.
    — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 20 July 2026
Definition of feline
Noun
  • The actor remains tight-lipped about season four, except revealing that Bradley Whitford, who portrays Grace’s husband, first gentleman Todd, has a bigger role as expected.
    — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 1 Aug. 2026
  • The Knicks claiming the 2026 NBA championship in an emphatic 4-1 gentleman’s sweep of the San Antonio Spurs sent the Eastern Conference into a frenzy.
    — Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 25 July 2026
Definition of gentleman
Noun
  • Yet their portrait of the artist as a hopeless snot-nosed punk doesn’t seem interested in knowing who this guy was past being another dude in search of a purpose.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 2026
  • While his antics look like something straight out of a Savannah Bananas game, the dude can throw a baseball.
    — Mark Harris OutKick, FOXNews.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of dude

Phrases Containing cat

Browse Nearby Words

casuistic
cat
cat's cradle
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cat. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on cat

Nglish: Translation of cat for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cat

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of nurture

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

How long is a jiffy?
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
fridge-magnet-letters
Drop a Letter Quiz August 2026 Drop a letter from a word to make a totally diffe...
See All