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 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
  • The South Korean tech giant recently upgraded its Smart Switch feature, allowing iPhone users to transfer data to a Galaxy device wirelessly by simply scanning a QR code, without installing the Smart Switch app on their iPhone.
    — Jenny Lee, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Microsoft and the teachers' unions announced an agreement Wednesday, banning the technology giant from tracking city students.
    — John Dias, CBS News, 10 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
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Cite this Entry

“Elephant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elephant. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on elephant

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about elephant

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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