insectivore

noun

Definition of insectivorenext
as in carnivore

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 insectivore The lemurs and tenrecs of Madagascar, for example, are descended from primates and insectivores that used to be much more widespread. — Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 June 2025 More on Groundhogs Moles Moles are insectivores, tunneling to find food. — Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 8 May 2025 The sparrowhawk is an aggressive bird of prey, adept at hunting and fighting, while the cuckoo’s nest targets are smaller birds and mostly insectivores. — Nathan H. Lents, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Apr. 2025 This tiny insectivore has an exceptionally fast metabolism, demanding near-constant feeding to survive. — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 15 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for insectivore
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insectivore
  1. carnivore
  2. animal
  3. omnivore
  4. creature
  5. critter
  6. beastie
  7. varmint
  8. vermin
Noun
  • Both minks and otters are mustelids, a family of carnivores that also includes badgers, weasels, and wolverines.
    — Kassia Bonesteel, CBS News, 1 July 2026
  • Chef Angie Mar made the Beatrice Inn a meat Mecca for downtown NYC carnivores.
    — Tony Sachs, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
Definition of carnivore
Noun
  • The heat has also caused mass losses of livestock since late May, with more than 493,000 animals having died, including pigs, poultry, and fish, according to South Korean authorities.
    — Yumi Asada, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026
  • For the most part, that excludes animal fibers like leather and virgin cashmere.
    — Bella Webb, Vogue, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of animal
Noun
  • The speckled omnivores can weigh upwards of 10 pounds, largely thanks to a diet that regularly includes eggs, small animals, fruits, and vegetables.
    — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 3 June 2026
  • North American river otters are omnivores, feeding on fish, turtles, crabs, mollusks, birds, oysters, shellfish, crayfish, frogs, rodents and insects.
    — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 22 Apr. 2026
Definition of omnivore
Noun
  • In a first-of-its-kind comprehensive review published in the journal Primates, anthropologists at the University of Oxford explored various instances of monkeys and apes carrying, grooming, playing, and sometimes actually adopting other creatures.
    — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 30 July 2026
  • Like any living creature, Etna can only speculate about the other shapes that his life might have taken.
    — Rachel Vorona Cote, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026
Definition of creature
Noun
  • As Roku’s city council scours the internet to see what the next viral critter might be, observers are already worried that Jimothy’s time is limited.
    — Pat Saperstein, Variety, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Instead, use a Bug Blaster hose end sprayer to blast the upper and undersides of the leaves with water and blow the critters away.
    — Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of critter
Noun
  • And when that happens, astronomers will set about studying these new beasties with other eyes on the sky to learn more about them and hopefully understand them.
    — Phil Plait, Scientific American, 24 July 2026
  • There be beasties beyond US Route 93, bigger than my vision could handle.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 June 2026
Definition of beastie
Noun
  • No air-conditioning, no insulation, its charm blunted by DIY additions, discount drywall, generations of putty and steel wool stuffed into varmint tunnels.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 June 2026
  • Moreover, the official mascots succeed in spotting various varmints — foxes and possums, to be specific, but thankfully, no vultures.
    — Ed Silverman, STAT, 16 June 2026
Definition of varmint
Noun
  • Repeat offenders, one of which is a retirement community, the usual vermin and an unusual amount of food thrown out for temperature violations highlight this week’s roll call of South Florida restaurants failing inspection.
    — David J. Neal July 31, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026
  • Residents have been complaining loudly about impacts from the fire, most notably citing issues such as noxious odors, vermin, flies and rodents.
    — Tom Bray, Daily News, 14 July 2026
Definition of vermin

Browse Nearby Words

insecticides
insectivore
insectivores
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Insectivore.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insectivore. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on insectivore

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about insectivore

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of torpor

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

How long is a jiffy?
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All