variants
also elephant
as in whales
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
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Recent Examples of elephants
The winners include heartbreaking images of an elephant culling in Zimbabwe, a massive apartment fire in Hong Kong, and the devastating aftermath of drone attacks in Ukraine.
—
Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 9 Apr. 2026
What is the name of the elephant that lives with Oscar the Grouch?
—Marilyn La Jeunesse, Parents, 9 Apr. 2026
The elephant—who was never given a name, or at least not one that’s recorded anywhere—was widely celebrated.
—Michele Metychall, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Apr. 2026
Other large exotic animals most commonly seen in zoos, such as elephants, rhinoceroses, giraffes, crocodiles, alligators, hippopotamuses, kangaroos and wallabies, are all banned, with some specific exceptions for zoos and research facilities.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 7 Apr. 2026
In 2019, a renovation and expansion improved the habitats for lions, giraffes and elephants.
—Caroline Foreback, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026
Eat the elephant one bite at a time, Redd recommends.
—Alora Bopray, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026
At the immersive new Elephant Valley, visitors come face to face with a herd of eight elephants led by their matriarch, Swazi.
—Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 2 Apr. 2026
Raised by Samburu keepers who act as surrogate parents, these elephants are nurtured back to health and prepared for life in the wild.
—Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 1 Apr. 2026
Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 9 Apr. 2026
What is the name of the elephant that lives with Oscar the Grouch?
—Marilyn La Jeunesse, Parents, 9 Apr. 2026
The elephant—who was never given a name, or at least not one that’s recorded anywhere—was widely celebrated.
—Michele Metychall, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Apr. 2026
Other large exotic animals most commonly seen in zoos, such as elephants, rhinoceroses, giraffes, crocodiles, alligators, hippopotamuses, kangaroos and wallabies, are all banned, with some specific exceptions for zoos and research facilities.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 7 Apr. 2026
In 2019, a renovation and expansion improved the habitats for lions, giraffes and elephants.
—Caroline Foreback, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026
Eat the elephant one bite at a time, Redd recommends.
—Alora Bopray, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026
At the immersive new Elephant Valley, visitors come face to face with a herd of eight elephants led by their matriarch, Swazi.
—Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 2 Apr. 2026
Raised by Samburu keepers who act as surrogate parents, these elephants are nurtured back to health and prepared for life in the wild.
—Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 1 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elephants
Noun
-
The Center for Biological Diversity estimated that the Deepwater Horizon disaster harmed or killed more than eighty thousand birds, six thousand sea turtles, and twenty-five thousand dolphins and whales.—
Jeffrey Marlow,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Juvenile whales gently nudged the calf and kept it close to the mother.—
Samantha Agate,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The creature, a blob about the size of a human hand, was found in the Mazon Creek area of Illinois, about 50 miles southwest of Chicago, that is rich in fossils from a period before dinosaurs walked the Earth.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 Apr. 2026
-
So when a park ranger spotted one while monitoring streams in a remote forest in September 2025, the discovery thrilled scientists and wildlife enthusiasts alike — and offered rare data about an endangered species whose ancestors lived alongside dinosaurs.—
Samantha Agate,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The logistics giants had been undergoing negotiations since last February, and at times appeared on rocky footing—leading to the earlier winddown threat.—
Glenn Taylor,
Footwear News,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Curry’s collection spans multiple brands from industry giants like Nike and Adidas to boutique labels such as Li-Ning.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Fossils have also been found that indicate the islands were also once home to pygmy mammoths, which only reached 4 to 6 feet tall.—
Kate Bradshaw,
Mercury News,
23 Mar. 2026
-
Surviving Earth explores the world 450M years ago featuring giant sea scorpions, mammoths and sabertooths.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The nonlinear experience will feature show moments with each of the four monsters and a finale with a different ending every night.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Explore this gallery of ghastly classic movie monsters.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Elephants.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elephants. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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