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
This is the country Brazilians affectionately call Brasil com S, a place with more than 70 national parks, more than 4,600 miles of coastline, and more local fruit stands than fast food chains.
—
Aaron Randolph, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2025
Other fast food chains have noted the emergence of a two-tier economy—of high-income earners shelling out for meals, while low-income earners tighten their belts.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 30 Oct. 2025
Here are some of the deals and unusual treats fast food chains and casual restaurants have announced on their websites, social media or in news releases.
—Fielding Buck, Oc Register, 28 Oct. 2025
Freshwater melting from the Greenland ice sheet can weaken ocean currents in the North Atlantic, disrupting air and ocean temperature patterns and marine food chains.
—Alexandra A Phillips, The Conversation, 13 Oct. 2025
But also, increasingly, in marine food chains and immense garbage patches in the oceans.
—New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
Fast food chains across the country are getting in the spooky season spirit with the return of Halloween buckets.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 7 Oct. 2025
Adding to that causes ocean acidification, which can disrupt marine food chains and reduce biodiversity.
—Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 6 Oct. 2025
Broadening the menu with less expensive options is also a way for chain restaurants to fight back against fast food chains, which are currently embroiled in a war amongst themselves, according to Maeve Webster, president of consulting firm Menu Matters.
—Jordan Valinsky, CNN Money, 4 Oct. 2025
Aaron Randolph, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2025
Other fast food chains have noted the emergence of a two-tier economy—of high-income earners shelling out for meals, while low-income earners tighten their belts.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 30 Oct. 2025
Here are some of the deals and unusual treats fast food chains and casual restaurants have announced on their websites, social media or in news releases.
—Fielding Buck, Oc Register, 28 Oct. 2025
Freshwater melting from the Greenland ice sheet can weaken ocean currents in the North Atlantic, disrupting air and ocean temperature patterns and marine food chains.
—Alexandra A Phillips, The Conversation, 13 Oct. 2025
But also, increasingly, in marine food chains and immense garbage patches in the oceans.
—New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
Fast food chains across the country are getting in the spooky season spirit with the return of Halloween buckets.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 7 Oct. 2025
Adding to that causes ocean acidification, which can disrupt marine food chains and reduce biodiversity.
—Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 6 Oct. 2025
Broadening the menu with less expensive options is also a way for chain restaurants to fight back against fast food chains, which are currently embroiled in a war amongst themselves, according to Maeve Webster, president of consulting firm Menu Matters.
—Jordan Valinsky, CNN Money, 4 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for food chains
Noun
-
People who are rude or unaware with receptionists can poison your culture, create unnecessary hierarchies, and drive your best people to leave.—
Jessica Neal,
CNBC,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Historically, beauty standards have been used to reinforce social hierarchies and maintain power structures, marginalizing people who don’t fit the societal standards.—
Akilah Sailers,
Essence,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
When in a forest, stay in proximity to shorter tree groupings.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Nix was uneven, seemingly out of sync with Payton and the personnel groupings.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
She was assigned to the EVOLVE brand before she was let go in October as part of a revamp of the company's developmental ranks.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
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The move also helps Netflix compete with YouTube, which has risen in ranks as the most popular platform for podcasts.—
Caitlin Huston,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Food chains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/food%20chains. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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