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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 That allows the organization to take in cats with serious medical needs that some smaller rescues may not have the resources to treat. — Meg Dunn, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2026 The tilcayo is slightly smaller than a domestic cat, measuring around 18 inches, with rounded ears. — CBS News, 18 Sep. 2026 Not much is known about the extent of the cat's environment or its behavior. — Allen Chang, ABC News, 17 Sep. 2026 Below, find both artists’ favorite cherry cola nail colors, including a set of on-trend cat-eye press-ons to try. — Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 17 Sep. 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
  • After visiting a neighbor who was fostering kittens, the little girl would bring one home, hoping to keep it despite her dad’s allergy.
    — Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Earlier this year, the kitten was discovered in the wild and closely monitored by biologists with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission as part of panther conservation efforts.
    — Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of kitten
Noun
  • Defense attorney Kevin Reddington repeatedly referred to the unnamed juror as a male inside and outside court.
    — James Cirrone, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Females are also far more likely than males to be illiterate, go hungry, be victims of human trafficking, or be murdered by a family member.
    — Gloria Steinem, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of male
Noun
  • At CatCon, attendees will get to meet kitty celebrities such as Uno, the one-eared cat with 360,000 subscribers on YouTube, or the Sphynx with over 44,000 thousand followers on Instagram, lily_rose_adventures.
    — Paris Barraza, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Because FeLV can be contagious to other cats, Bruce will need to be the only kitty in his new home.
    — Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of kitty
Noun
  • This guy seemed all right, so why not meet up with him just to try it out?
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Rodgers and Hammerstein, Stephen Sondheim — those guys wrote proper musicals.
    — Victor Garber, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of guy
Noun
  • The feline was then released back into the wild, startled but safe.
    — Mack DeGeurin, Popular Science, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Witkowski estimated a standard chair for the feline would cost around $1,800, which is a steep price given that the growing kitten would outgrow it in about a month and a half.
    — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of feline
Noun
  • In this 1985 novel, recently reissued by NYRB, Louise has returned to the splendor and decay of New Orleans, where one drunken yet charming Southern gentleman in particular catches her eye.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Portraying a character who is an all-around gentleman was the biggest challenge for Skarsgård.
    — Shelby Stivale, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of gentleman
Noun
  • This is a dude that’s driven every car in the world, has respect all over the world.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 Sep. 2026
  • And, yet, we’re supposed to take from it that Newsom isn’t just another stuffy old white dude in a suit.
    — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of dude

Phrases Containing cat

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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 20 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on cat

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cat

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