as in hierarchies
a series of types of living things in which each one uses the next lower member of the series as a source of food
Sharks eat fish that are lower in the food chain. animals that are at the top of the food chain
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Recent Examples of food chains
Not through explosions, but through slow, invisible leakage into marine ecosystems and food chains.
—
Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 25 Mar. 2026
Life at the bottom of the Mediterranean is adapting to the garbage, raising questions about food chains and ecosystem health that researchers are still working to understand.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 10 Mar. 2026
The Espresso Proteini rides the ongoing protein hype, as more food chains and brands add protein-centric items to their menus.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 9 Mar. 2026
That could lead to a local or regional collapse of ocean food chains.
—Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 27 Feb. 2026
Burger King is one of several fast food chains experimenting with artificial intelligence.
—Dee-Ann Durbin, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2026
Finding them here tells scientists something about the food chains that existed just after a catastrophic die-off.
—Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 27 Feb. 2026
Burger King is one of several fast food chains experimenting with artificial intelligence.
—ABC News, 26 Feb. 2026
Plenty of food chains in Kentucky have deals or limited-time menu items to accommodate for the Lenten season.
—Cheryl V. Jackson, Louisville Courier Journal, 20 Feb. 2026
Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 25 Mar. 2026
Life at the bottom of the Mediterranean is adapting to the garbage, raising questions about food chains and ecosystem health that researchers are still working to understand.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 10 Mar. 2026
The Espresso Proteini rides the ongoing protein hype, as more food chains and brands add protein-centric items to their menus.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 9 Mar. 2026
That could lead to a local or regional collapse of ocean food chains.
—Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 27 Feb. 2026
Burger King is one of several fast food chains experimenting with artificial intelligence.
—Dee-Ann Durbin, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2026
Finding them here tells scientists something about the food chains that existed just after a catastrophic die-off.
—Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 27 Feb. 2026
Burger King is one of several fast food chains experimenting with artificial intelligence.
—ABC News, 26 Feb. 2026
Plenty of food chains in Kentucky have deals or limited-time menu items to accommodate for the Lenten season.
—Cheryl V. Jackson, Louisville Courier Journal, 20 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for food chains
Noun
-
Like all architecture, his buildings depended on heterogeneity—joints, interfaces, hierarchies, and the coordination of many materials, trades, and systems.—
Julian Rose,
Artforum,
26 Mar. 2026
-
The idea of purity — whether in food, body or belief — often masks hierarchies of power.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
When in a forest, stay in proximity to shorter tree groupings.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
21 Mar. 2026
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The silver carpet at our ultra-exclusive celebration after the Oscars 2026 was jam-packed with mini family reunions, including groupings of siblings, parents and their kids, and even a stray grandparent in the mix.—
Kase Wickman,
Vanity Fair,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Ghalibaf came through the ranks of the guard himself and is believed to be among the inner circle of Mojtaba Khamenei, the ayatollah's son and successor.—
Alexander Smith,
NBC news,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Johnson’s legacy includes his son Bret and Rob Johnson, who were standout quarterbacks at El Toro and played in the college and professional ranks.—
Dan Albano,
Oc Register,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Food chains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/food%20chains. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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