elephant

noun

ˈe-lə-fənt How to pronounce elephant (audio)
Definition of elephantnext
as in whale
something or someone that is unusually large and powerful by any standard, the new shopping mall will be an elephant and one that is certain to alter the retail landscape

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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 elephant Acehnese conservationist Farwiza Farhan has spent years fighting to protect Sumatra’s Leuser Ecosystem—perhaps the last place on Earth where elephants, tigers, rhinos and orangutans still coexist in the wild. — Ashleigh Nghiem, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2026 Elephants can be extremely destructive and dangerous, and several African countries must confront the problem of elephant herds destroying farmers' crops and infrastructure as well as killing or injuring people. — ABC News, 2 Oct. 2026 The style’s unique details are what separates it from a standard Air Jordan 3, with a geometric pattern replacing the elephant print typically found on the model’s toe and heel overlays. — Riley Jones, Footwear News, 2 Oct. 2026 The elephants would provide meat for needy rural communities, authorities said Friday in defense of the move. — Sello Motseta, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for elephant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elephant
  1. whale
  2. giant
  3. dinosaur
  4. monster
  5. mammoth
Noun
  • Eventually, the whale breaches the surface and Jay nearly manages to break free by climbing out of its open mouth.
    — Megan McCluskey, Time, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Meanwhile, the natural beauty of the Golden State is offset by the graphic body horror of the whale’s innards, built on practical sets by production designer Ramsey Avery and lit by bioluminescence.
    — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of whale
Noun
  • No word on if there may be a deal for the duo to land over at the streaming giant as the company prepares for a few big theatrical releases ahead.
    — Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026
  • In response, the streaming giant has sought to diversify its content in recent years, expanding into live sports, documentaries and video games in order to compete for share of consumer attention.
    — Sarah Whitten, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of giant
Noun
  • On the day of the scavenger hunt, the team hides its creations around town, while ravenous worm-hunters eagerly await their first hint of where a ceramic worm decorated to look like a pickle, or a crayon, or a rainbow dinosaur, can be found.
    — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Leaning into its history, Kessler has outfitted the hotel with installations that channel the Jurassic period, including life size dinosaur skeletons and fossils, backlit in a range of bright colors, displayed throughout the walls.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of dinosaur
Noun
  • Diagnose the monster before deciding which mind and which move are required to outwit it.
    — Jeff DeGraff, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
  • That led him to snowy Deadwood, South Dakota, and a turn as local guide Gil Jackson in the horror heist movie Beast From Haunted Cave (1959), produced by Roger’s brother, Gene Corman, and featuring Chris Robinson as the monster.
    — Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of monster
Noun
  • In ancient California, they are believed to have existed alongside other extinct native species, including bison-sized Jefferson’s ground sloths, Columbian mammoths and western camels.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026
  • See fossils of the 14-foot, 20,000-pound mammoths that used to roam around Texas.
    — Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of mammoth

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elements
elephant
elephantine
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Cite this Entry

“Elephant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elephant. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on elephant

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about elephant

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