as in panthers
a large tawny cat of the wild
the problems created by mountain lions coming into contact with humans in suburban developments
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Recent Examples of mountain lions
Jefferson County Investigators said mountain lions are common in the foothills and mountain areas.
—
Jennifer McRae, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
Neither can male mountain lions or mule deer, both of which inhabit this dramatic desert.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2026
One of the largest remaining pieces of undeveloped private property in Santa Clara County, the ranch is home to mountain lions, bald eagles and steelhead trout.
—Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 30 Jan. 2026
There’s a certain level of excitement when folks learn about mountain lions nearby.
—Steve Scauzillo, Daily News, 28 Jan. 2026
Fernando Najera, director of the California Carnivores Program at UC Davis, said that recent experience showed that mountain lions can learn not to be afraid of technology that once worked to frighten them away from people and livestock.
—Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Wildlife officials across the West often trap and relocate large predators like wolves, mountain lions, and bears that are in close proximity to livestock instead of killing them.
—Christine Peterson, Outdoor Life, 28 Jan. 2026
Experts believe the animal is around a year old — an age when mountain lions typically disperse from their birthplace in search of new territory.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 27 Jan. 2026
Jennifer McRae, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
Neither can male mountain lions or mule deer, both of which inhabit this dramatic desert.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2026
One of the largest remaining pieces of undeveloped private property in Santa Clara County, the ranch is home to mountain lions, bald eagles and steelhead trout.
—Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 30 Jan. 2026
There’s a certain level of excitement when folks learn about mountain lions nearby.
—Steve Scauzillo, Daily News, 28 Jan. 2026
Fernando Najera, director of the California Carnivores Program at UC Davis, said that recent experience showed that mountain lions can learn not to be afraid of technology that once worked to frighten them away from people and livestock.
—Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Wildlife officials across the West often trap and relocate large predators like wolves, mountain lions, and bears that are in close proximity to livestock instead of killing them.
—Christine Peterson, Outdoor Life, 28 Jan. 2026
Experts believe the animal is around a year old — an age when mountain lions typically disperse from their birthplace in search of new territory.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 27 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mountain lions
Noun
-
Cougars, mountain lions, panthers and pumas are the same cat species — puma concolor, according to the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance website.—
Olga R. Rodriguez,
Fortune,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Footage of the incident shows the mountain lion — the species also known as a cougar, puma or panther — lurking in some brush at the Orange County park, peeking its face tentatively from a spot behind some leaves.—
Bailey Richards,
PEOPLE,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Male cougars are extremely territorial, and two landowners located near each other accounted for nine of the 31 reports.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
29 Jan. 2026
-
About 67 cougars are living in the Santa Monica Mountains near Los Angeles, the DFW report estimates.—
Steve Scauzillo,
Daily News,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mountain lions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mountain%20lions. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.
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