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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 In a small Nepalese village nestled in the heart of a forest populated by wild elephants, Pirati is the matriarch of a Kinnar community. — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 16 Sep. 2026 The scientists also found evidence of specialized, super-sized neurons involved in social cognition only found in large-brain mammals like elephants, whales, and primates, including humans. — Megan Molteni, STAT, 16 Sep. 2026 All mammals, from mice to cats to elephants, appear to sleep in some form or another. — Michael R. Nadorff, The Conversation, 14 Sep. 2026 Other animals like zebras, giraffes, impalas, warthogs, and more soon follow, benefiting from the elephants’ labor. — Nicholas Derenzo, Travel + Leisure, 13 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for elephant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elephant
  1. whale
  2. giant
  3. dinosaur
  4. monster
  5. mammoth
Noun
  • The public is advised to stay alert, particularly in active waterways with boat traffic, as whales can surface unexpectedly.
    — Megan Fahrney, ABC News, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Each watertight bubble contains a colorful object, such as a duck or whale, to distract your little one while they’re being cleaned.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of whale
Noun
  • As tech giants race to expand computing infrastructure, Nvidia has emerged as the single biggest beneficiary of the current AI boom.
    — , CNBC, 18 Sep. 2026
  • The backstory Opened in 2016 as Atton Brickell, the property was acquired and rebranded by French hospitality giant Accor under its stylish Novotel umbrella.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of giant
Noun
  • Hups, a science teacher at Colorado’s Northglenn High School, immediately recognized the lumpy sandstone as dinosaur toes.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Some studies suggested many dinosaurs were endotherms, generating their own body heat like birds and mammals.
    — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of dinosaur
Noun
  • What kind of direction was Cregger giving you during the monster fight at the end?
    — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Based on the popular Capcom video games, Resident Evil stars Austin Abrams as Bryan, an outmatched medical courier who becomes trapped in a monster outbreak in Raccoon City during a single night of chaos and has to try to survive.
    — Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 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

Browse Nearby Words

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 23 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on elephant

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about elephant

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