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

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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 Mix things up a bit with trendy oversized aviators—or go classic with cat-eye sunnies. — India Roby, Glamour, 16 July 2026 The cat’s baffled loss takes center stage while the human mourner remains on the sidelines. — Literary Hub, 16 July 2026 This is especially dangerous when feeding large numbers of free-roaming cats. — Jack Perry, The Providence Journal, 16 July 2026 The only clue left at Gaston’s home at the time of her disappearance was a note to say that the widow went looking for her cat, the Los Angeles Police Department said at the time. — Doha Madani, NBC news, 16 July 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
  • Summer is usually the busiest season for shelters, officials said, as more stray animals, owner surrenders and vulnerable kittens arrive across the five boroughs.
    — Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 18 July 2026
  • Although the Cuyahoga County Animal Shelter primarily cares for dogs, Wenz couldn’t leave behind a mother cat and her eight kittens, which were enduring the same sweltering temperatures.
    — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 16 July 2026
Definition of kitten
Noun
  • Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has recently announced that active duty male military personnel over age 30 will be screened annually for testosterone levels.
    — Nina Shapiro, Forbes.com, 18 July 2026
  • The case remained unsolved until evidence was reexamined in 2010, when investigators identified an unknown male’s DNA profile, but no match was found on the FBI’s Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), per the outlets.
    — Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 17 July 2026
Definition of male
Noun
  • Loan pools like the Chinese hui, the Japanese tanomoshi and the Korean kye involve groups of investors who pay into a kitty that is then doled out on a rotating basis.
    — Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
  • Leap across rooftops and squeeze through pipes, all to become the ultimate good kitty.
    — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 26 June 2026
Definition of kitty
Noun
  • Danny has an entire party so that the guys can mourn the loss of his manhood.
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 16 July 2026
  • Unlike most sagas about band couples — Sonny & Cher, Fleetwood Mac — these guys don’t go down in flames musically or personally.
    — Marisa Fox, Rolling Stone, 16 July 2026
Definition of guy
Noun
  • These members of the order of Carnivora, which includes bears, wolves, felines, seals, and many other mammals that specialize in eating flesh, have found a way to reorganize themselves to take full advantage of all that city life has to offer.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 July 2026
  • Photos from the post show the cat, a fuzzy orange-and-cream feline, on what appears to be a remote part of the bridge, huddled in toward itself while peering up at the camera.
    — Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 13 July 2026
Definition of feline
Noun
  • This gentleman, for whatever want, is completely free to decide to avoid the media.
    — Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 17 July 2026
  • Most notable was his thin satin-like scarf whipped eccentrically over one shoulder, like a Milanese gentleman oozing sprezzatura, further cementing himself as one of the most glamorous soccer players of our time.
    — Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 15 July 2026
Definition of gentleman
Noun
  • And the dude never had an unkind word, was always kind to the crew.
    — Alexandra Schonfeld, PEOPLE, 15 July 2026
  • In hindsight, Scott sees parallels in both, even if Webb was more of the perfect dude.
    — Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 14 July 2026
Definition of dude

Phrases Containing cat

Browse Nearby Words

casuistic
cat
cat's cradle
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Cite this Entry

“Cat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cat. Accessed 19 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on cat

Nglish: Translation of cat for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cat

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