as in animals
one of the lower animals as distinguished from human beings
she's so fond of every kind of critter that she ought to be a veterinarian
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Recent Examples of critters
Meanwhile smaller critters, such as mice, produce high-frequency whistles.
—
Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 24 Feb. 2026
From reviving tired wood cutting boards to catching critters, this multitasking tool earns its keep far beyond baking day.
—Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 23 Feb. 2026
Since early construction began, many of the critters who used to frequent their backyards have already scattered.
—Kansas City Star, 20 Feb. 2026
But at many shelters, including Marin Humane, there are lots of other critters looking for their forever homes.
—Lisa Bloch, Mercury News, 17 Feb. 2026
Rosemary makes one of the best companion plants for apple trees because of its strong scent that's unpleasing to critters looking to snack on a juicy red apple.
—Ashlyn Needham, The Spruce, 16 Feb. 2026
And there are plenty more infant critters in these Wildlife Photographer of the Year images, including a possum, a crab, kestrels and bear cubs galore.
—Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 7 Feb. 2026
Only a handful of other critters share the same history, and most were rescues that could not be returned to their natural habitat.
—Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 7 Feb. 2026
Smaller critters — hermit crabs, lightning whelks and snails — skittered along the seafloor.
—Max Chesnes, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2026
Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 24 Feb. 2026
From reviving tired wood cutting boards to catching critters, this multitasking tool earns its keep far beyond baking day.
—Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 23 Feb. 2026
Since early construction began, many of the critters who used to frequent their backyards have already scattered.
—Kansas City Star, 20 Feb. 2026
But at many shelters, including Marin Humane, there are lots of other critters looking for their forever homes.
—Lisa Bloch, Mercury News, 17 Feb. 2026
Rosemary makes one of the best companion plants for apple trees because of its strong scent that's unpleasing to critters looking to snack on a juicy red apple.
—Ashlyn Needham, The Spruce, 16 Feb. 2026
And there are plenty more infant critters in these Wildlife Photographer of the Year images, including a possum, a crab, kestrels and bear cubs galore.
—Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 7 Feb. 2026
Only a handful of other critters share the same history, and most were rescues that could not be returned to their natural habitat.
—Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 7 Feb. 2026
Smaller critters — hermit crabs, lightning whelks and snails — skittered along the seafloor.
—Max Chesnes, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for critters
Noun
-
Bird flu spreads through feces and saliva, which can impact other animals and humans.—
Alexandra Simon,
CBS News,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Research in this area is limited — and mostly in animals.—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
From droppings-mimicking spiders in Borneo to a tiny gecko tucked under bark in India, these creatures have been quietly perfecting their disguises while science is only now catching up — one DNA barcode, one micro-CT scan at a time.—
Hanna Wickes,
Miami Herald,
27 Feb. 2026
-
The findings, published in the journal Nature, reveal a world recovering from devastation and teeming with strange, soft-bodied creatures whose delicate features were frozen in stone with astonishing detail.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Critters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/critters. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
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