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

Relevance

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 elephant The famed Big 5 (elephants, buffalos, leopards, rhinos, and lions) are all easily spotted in these lands, but the diverse habitats provide opportunities for different behavioral sightings, from feeding to bathing and mating. — Paul Jebara, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Aug. 2026 The colorful new benches are shaped like animals — elephants, gorillas. — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 27 Aug. 2026 Animals like an elephant, rhino or a giraffe, can't fit in a CT scanner, or even a van, so vets bring the check up to them. — Maddie Rhodes, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026 Discworld is a flat earth balanced on the backs of four elephants, which are in turn standing on an enormous turtle, Great A’Tuin. — Carline Tromp, The Dial, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for elephant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elephant
  1. whale
  2. giant
  3. dinosaur
  4. monster
  5. mammoth
Noun
  • Each summer, thousands of beluga whales migrate to the mouth of the Churchill River, to feed on small fish and nurse their young.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 6 Sep. 2026
  • And acting together, cells are collectively intelligent, ultimately building complex final forms—whether that be a flower, a whale, or even you.
    — Matthew Hutson, Scientific American, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of whale
Noun
  • Additional study of the hexagon and now a decagon could help astronomers compare formations on the opposite ends of Saturn and learn more about a gas giant's weather patterns, according to NASA.
    — Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
  • As legislation is introduced at a record pace, shifting political views are driving more proposals that seek to restrict the tech giants.
    — Chris Hacker, Washington Post, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of giant
Noun
  • The broken rib indicates that Scotty likely succumbed to injuries sustained during a dinosaur brawl.
    — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The ride started in the prehistoric era, and showcased animatronic dinosaurs, then went through various scenes of how humans have used energy throughout history.
    — Julie Tremaine, PEOPLE, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of dinosaur
Noun
  • Similarly, Zo — seen recently as the monster hunter in Na Hong-jin’s delirious sci-fi action epic, Hope — stays for most of the running time just the right side of smug entitlement.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Having created this monster, Hansen now has to feed it; going up against Lost, To Catch a Predator needs to best itself every week.
    — Damon Wise, Deadline, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of monster
Noun
  • 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
  • The site preserves the remains of Columbian mammoths and offers a look at Ice Age life in Texas.
    — Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of mammoth

Browse Nearby Words

elements
elephant
elephantine
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Elephant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elephant. Accessed 9 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on elephant

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about elephant

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of stigma

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All