1
as in puppies
a domestic mammal that is related to the wolves and foxes
a dog who needs a loving home
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in bastards
a person whose behavior is offensive to others
she must think that you're a real dog after hearing those tasteless jokes you told last night
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in chases
to go after or on the track of
star athletes being dogged by fans when they're out in public
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hounds
to subject (someone) to constant scoldings and sharp reminders
tired of constantly having to dog their son about cleaning his room
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 dogs
Lauren J. Young, Scientific American, 4 May 2026
Small dogs are welcome to stay with a €50 supplement.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 May 2026
The first 300 dogs were taken from Ridglan on Friday, with more scheduled for removal over the next week.
—David Fischer, Fortune, 4 May 2026
The dogs only have more love to look forward to.
—Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 4 May 2026
Skyline Drive is the starting point for a variety of hiking trails, many of which permit dogs, making Shenandoah one of the most pet-friendly national parks.
—Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 3 May 2026
As of Sunday, 278 cats, 30 dogs and dozens of other animals including geese, chickens, turkeys, goats and pigs had been transported to San Diego Humane Society or county Animal Services facilities.
—Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 May 2026
Kristen Evans loves to bring her dogs to northwest Aurora's Sand Creek open space for a walk.
—Christa Swanson, CBS News, 3 May 2026
Both are emotional therapy dogs.
—Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
The program trains therapy dogs around the state, including Louie, an 8-year-old dog who works for the Worth Police Department.
—Suzanne Le Mignot, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026
Dogs must be at least three months old, and dogs older than 12 months must be spayed or neutered.
—Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 Apr. 2026
Inspired by UConn, other schools in the state, including Eastern Connecticut State University, Central Connecticut State University and the University of Saint Joseph, host dogs almost every week.
—Mikayla Bunnell, Hartford Courant, 11 Apr. 2026
Dehydration dogs their journey, and local ranchers have found their homes burglarized by travelers in search of sustenance.
—Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 26 Mar. 2026
Economists, analysts, and investors have spent the past few days sounding the alarm about stagflation, a uniquely nerve-racking scenario in which high inflation dogs a low-growth, stagnant economy.
—Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026
Cadaver dogs on hold as search for Nancy Guthrie enters fifth week with no answers.
—FOXNews.com, 9 Mar. 2026
But what Mom noticed most were the thoughtful touches—yoga mats in the closet, dogs padding through the lobby of this pet-friendly property, bikes ready for guests to explore.
—Lisa A. Beach, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2026
Noun
The dogs [which carried the same genetic defect for LCA as humans] had the funny eye movements.
—Lauren J. Young, Scientific American, 4 May 2026
Small dogs are welcome to stay with a €50 supplement.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 May 2026
The first 300 dogs were taken from Ridglan on Friday, with more scheduled for removal over the next week.
—David Fischer, Fortune, 4 May 2026
The dogs only have more love to look forward to.
—Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 4 May 2026
Skyline Drive is the starting point for a variety of hiking trails, many of which permit dogs, making Shenandoah one of the most pet-friendly national parks.
—Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 3 May 2026
As of Sunday, 278 cats, 30 dogs and dozens of other animals including geese, chickens, turkeys, goats and pigs had been transported to San Diego Humane Society or county Animal Services facilities.
—Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 May 2026
Kristen Evans loves to bring her dogs to northwest Aurora's Sand Creek open space for a walk.
—Christa Swanson, CBS News, 3 May 2026
Both are emotional therapy dogs.
—Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
Verb
For families While families are welcome—and larger accommodations like the George Suite can comfortably accommodate them (dogs included)—the Chloe is best suited to solo travelers, couples and culturally curious out-of-towners drawn to design, food, music history, and a strong sense of place.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
The program trains therapy dogs around the state, including Louie, an 8-year-old dog who works for the Worth Police Department.
—Suzanne Le Mignot, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026
Dogs must be at least three months old, and dogs older than 12 months must be spayed or neutered.
—Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 Apr. 2026
Inspired by UConn, other schools in the state, including Eastern Connecticut State University, Central Connecticut State University and the University of Saint Joseph, host dogs almost every week.
—Mikayla Bunnell, Hartford Courant, 11 Apr. 2026
Dehydration dogs their journey, and local ranchers have found their homes burglarized by travelers in search of sustenance.
—Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 26 Mar. 2026
Economists, analysts, and investors have spent the past few days sounding the alarm about stagflation, a uniquely nerve-racking scenario in which high inflation dogs a low-growth, stagnant economy.
—Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026
Cadaver dogs on hold as search for Nancy Guthrie enters fifth week with no answers.
—FOXNews.com, 9 Mar. 2026
But what Mom noticed most were the thoughtful touches—yoga mats in the closet, dogs padding through the lobby of this pet-friendly property, bikes ready for guests to explore.
—Lisa A. Beach, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dogs
Verb
-
In the Ring video, a person dressed in black pants and a gray T-shirt, with a gray sweatshirt draped over his shoulder, chases two dogs down a residential street, spraying them with pellets from what looks like a gel gun.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Or do coaches even matter and everyone just chases the bag?—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Grabber hounds Finn through an old phone booth and torments Gwen through her dreams.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Vavassori hounds the net with his teradactyl-like wingspan.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
20 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Law enforcement officials were going door to door in search of information and surveillance video, as well as using helicopters, drones and canines, Pennington said.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Acting Park Superintendent Barb Lusco said the dog park totals about 5 acres, split into two sides so small dogs don’t get run over by large dogs playing with fellow canines.—
Doug Ross,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Once completed, the $5 million acquisition will ensure the theater has a permanent home, a place where skateboarding clowns and leek-haired onions can continue to frolic and dance for decades to come.—
Todd Martens,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Plot details are being kept under wraps, though the film has been described as a four-quadrant coming-of-age comedy set in the world of funny and evil clowns.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Investors burned by that bust are still leery of pouring money into oil and gas a decade later, says Brandon Davis, founder of AFE Leaks, a consulting firm that tracks capital costs for oil and gas.—
Stephanie Pappas,
Scientific American,
6 May 2026
-
Comptroller Phil Diamond — whose office tracks collection and spending of Orange County’s tourist tax, widely seen as a barometer of the health of the regional tourism market — indicated Tuesday that receipts would continue the surge that began last April.—
Stephen Hudak,
The Orlando Sentinel,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
For starters, there are the cost savings of getting one of these not-so-in-demand mutts.—
Jack Beresford,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Much of the rising interest is tied to claims that these mixed pooches possess more desirable aspects than many purebreeds or mutts.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Here, witches are real — and so are jerks.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
-
This was just the beginning of us young anarchists becoming judgmental jerks.—
Joseph Hudak,
Rolling Stone,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In corporate news, shares of eBay soared as Ryan Cohen’s GameStop pursues an approximately $56 billion takeover of company, seeing it as a vehicle to compete with online retail giant Amazon.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 May 2026
-
Chang becomes the fourth Southern California volleyball player accepted to MIT and joins three others from Redondo Union as Chatsworth pursues another playoff championship.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dogs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dogs. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
