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
Moreover, in every case, the ancestors were either insectivores or carnivores, with insect-eaters making the shift about three times more often than carnivores.
—
Rupendra Brahambhatt, ArsTechnica, 20 Aug. 2025
Belonging to the same group of mammals as sloths and anteaters, armadillos are voracious insectivores that eat large numbers of beetles, grubs, ants, termites, and other insects, grabbing them with their sticky tongues.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 18 July 2025
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
This tiny insectivore has an exceptionally fast metabolism, demanding near-constant feeding to survive.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 15 Mar. 2025
Among the species declines that have led to billions fewer birds in North America over the last half-century, grassland birds and aerial insectivores have been hit especially hard, having lost many bugs that once fed them.
—Brandon Loomis, The Arizona Republic, 22 Sep. 2024
Rupendra Brahambhatt, ArsTechnica, 20 Aug. 2025
Belonging to the same group of mammals as sloths and anteaters, armadillos are voracious insectivores that eat large numbers of beetles, grubs, ants, termites, and other insects, grabbing them with their sticky tongues.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 18 July 2025
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
This tiny insectivore has an exceptionally fast metabolism, demanding near-constant feeding to survive.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 15 Mar. 2025
Among the species declines that have led to billions fewer birds in North America over the last half-century, grassland birds and aerial insectivores have been hit especially hard, having lost many bugs that once fed them.
—Brandon Loomis, The Arizona Republic, 22 Sep. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insectivore
Noun
-
The absence of tooth marks on the mandibles does not imply that other parts of the bodies were not consumed by hyenas or other carnivores.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
-
The hominin bones and animal remains make up an assemblage of fossils that appear to come from the den of a carnivore, perhaps a hyena.—
Stephanie Pappas,
Scientific American,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Johnson said that the animal caused extensive damage to his home, costing tens of thousands of dollars.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Deputies arrested Sargent on Thursday on two felony animal-cruelty counts and one misdemeanor count.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Card-carrying herbivores, seed-eaters, and omnivores switched to a cicada-heavy diet during a brood emergence in Washington, D.C., in 2021, according to Martha Weiss, a professor of biology at George Washington University.—
Sarah Henry,
The Courier-Journal,
8 July 2025
-
But slugs can be beneficial omnivores that feed on algae, fungi, decomposing organic matter and plants.—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 July 2025
Noun
-
David Bowie personally appears on the cover of 24 of his solo albums, depicting himself as a bowl-cut heartthrob, an androgynous blond, a space alien in human disguise, a cigarette-smoking lounge creature, a sideways pair of legs, and an oddly undersized boxer.—
Armin Rosen,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Not to mention the titular bugs, a swarm of blood-invading creatures discovered by her new lover, the mysterious drifter Peter Evans (Namir Smallwood).—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
If your kids enjoy watching critters chow down, be sure to consult the feeding schedules at the various habitats.—
Jesse Ashlock,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Never place your luggage on the hotel room floor, bed, or furniture, as these surfaces may harbor bed bugs and other unwelcome critters.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
4 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Abby’s Magical Beasties, where one of the beasties goes missing, and Abby must problem-solve.—
Sarah Scott,
Parents,
3 Nov. 2025
-
In a horrific twist, Kasumi (Kana Hanazawa) wakes up way too early — and thus has to battle the ferocious beasties to survive.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Money speaks, the land listens, where the Anarchist skulked, where the horsethief plied his trade, we fishers of Americans will cast our nets of perfect ten-acre mesh, leveled and varmint-proofed, ready to build on.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Another disadvantage: Adding banana peels directly to the soil may attract unwelcome varmints.—
Marin Independent Journal,
The Mercury News,
14 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
This could include, but is not limited to, major vermin contamination.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Insects, vermin, and other pests use their instincts and take advantage of the vulnerable indoor living environment.—
Malana VanTyler,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Insectivore.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insectivore. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share