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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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 estate included a train system, amusement park with rides and attractions, and a zoo with animals such as llamas, elephants, tigers, and chimps. — Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Aug. 2026 Walk with expert trackers beneath towering trees and prehistoric cycads, following age-old elephant and leopard trails while surrounded by a chorus of birdsong. — Nicola Shepherd, Travel + Leisure, 11 Aug. 2026 Some visitors spent time walking through the herd, moving from one elephant to another. — Goodluck Ajeh, Christian Science Monitor, 9 Aug. 2026 Hippos, which are herbivores, are the third-largest land animal after elephants and white rhinos and can weigh as much as 8,000 pounds. — Dennis Romero, NBC news, 8 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
  • The Georgia Aquarium’s two newest beluga whales are safe and sound in Atlanta after being rescued from a shuttered aquatic park in Canada.
    — AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Two male beluga whales rescued from Marineland of Canada arrived safely at Georgia Aquarium, marking a new chapter in an international effort to save the animals.
    — CBS Atlanta Digital Team, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of whale
Noun
  • Even before the Ukraine war, international shipping giants were skeptical and the route remains controversial.
    — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
  • In an interview with Deadline earlier this summer, Takashi Nakano, VP of content and programming for Samsung TV Plus, described how the series fits into the streaming giant’s strategy.
    — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of giant
Noun
  • Starting with the second film, The Lost World, a theme emerged in which dinosaurs were recast as victims who needed protecting from evil humans.
    — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 17 Aug. 2026
  • There was a costume parade featuring 38 corgis in diverse outfits including a dinosaur suit, a dress and doggy sports gear.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of dinosaur
Noun
  • According to Disney, guests will have the chance to explore the city, meet its citizens, taste unique cuisine, and step into the everyday world of monsters in a totally new way.
    — Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 16 Aug. 2026
  • The wild things – fictional monsters Sendak has said were based on his own family members – roll their terrible eyes, gnash their teeth and show their terrible claws.
    — Liz Rosenberg, The Conversation, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of monster
Noun
  • Woolly mammoths coexisted with early humans who hunted the cold-resistant herbivores for food and used their tusks and bones as tools.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 4 Aug. 2026
  • These results raise some questions about how Ice Age hunter-gatherers interacted with wooly mammoths.
    — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 30 July 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 19 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on elephant

Nglish: Translation of elephant for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about elephant

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