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 The district attorney’s office said the child was reported to smell like cat urine and appeared seriously underweight and pale. — Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026 Levee, in this rendition, is the living embodiment of a jiving jazz cat who sees a future of faster, jumpier arrangements even for Ma Rainey’s dour if saucy blues. — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 13 Oct. 2026 The black-and-white photograph shows Hepworth seated with her arms and legs crossed, a tea set in the foreground and a cat curled up on a couch. — Leigh Anne Miller, ARTnews.com, 12 Oct. 2026 The severity of their exposure was corroborated by the short life of cats, who feasted on the factory’s omnipresent rodents. — Wendy S. Walters, Architectural Digest, 12 Oct. 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
  • The kitten got her name from her coloring, which reminded Alex of cookies and brownies.
    — Ashley Paul, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Recently, in the Simi Hills north of the crossing, his team marked three kittens, the first litter for the 3 ½-year-old lion known as P-113.
    — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of kitten
Noun
  • Aark Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center in Chalfont said in a Facebook post in September that the large adult male snapping turtle was admitted after rescuers found him being pelted with stones by kids.
    — Madeline Bartos, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Sousa was a prominent organizer for the rallies in support of Sophie Cunningham following her stance in opposing males competing girls' sports during this past WNBA season.
    — Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 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
  • When Skinny Neck Tat guy tries to break into her house, Ginger exercises her constitutional right to deadly force.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Two guys who coached on the correct side of the ball [defense] chewing it up.
    — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of guy
Noun
  • Tons of toys are on sale too, from popular fish toys your feline will love tossing around to the classic cat scratcher that can help prevent them from sinking their claws into the couch.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026
  • At Adoptions for Love, a cat rescue currently sheltering 80 felines in the more upscale neighborhood of Playa, the number of people looking to adopt has plunged.
    — Orlando Matos, NBC news, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of feline
Noun
  • And without hesitation, or even the need for another question, Ditka proved to be a perfect gentleman and told us his whole story about erectile dysfunction.
    — Bob Brody, Chicago Tribune, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Since his host has a strict rule about using human avatars in this environment, the bad guy now presents as the gentleman from The Blacklist rocking a wizard’s beard.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of gentleman
Noun
  • In decades past, some greasy label dude would probably tell them to go write a real hit next.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Compared to a woman who spends her days toiling to defend some of America’s most underserved, Lee’s a man who wrote a puff piece about some rich, white dude.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 15 Oct. 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 18 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on cat

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cat

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