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Recent Examples of precocial
Hares are also born fully furred and with their eyes open, a trait called precocial, whereas rabbits are born hairless, blind, and vulnerable, needing more parental care in the early stages of life.
—
Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 25 May 2025
Ducks are what scientists call precocial birds — capable of feeding, swimming and walking soon after hatching.
—New York Times, 22 June 2022
Godwits and most other ground nesters, on the other hand, are precocial birds.
—Jim Robbins, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Jan. 2022
Game birds, precocial, have larger clutches because the young, feathered and out of the nest upon hatching, are more subject to predation.
—Jim Williams, Star Tribune, 29 June 2021
The opposite are precocial birds, birds that hatch with feathers and are mobile and ready to go shortly after emerging from the egg.
—Anna Thomas Bates, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 28 June 2017
Comparison with avian brain evolution suggests that placental brain size should be constrained due to placentals’ relative precociality, as has been hypothesized for precocial bird hatchlings.
—Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 10 Sep. 2010
Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 25 May 2025
Ducks are what scientists call precocial birds — capable of feeding, swimming and walking soon after hatching.
—New York Times, 22 June 2022
Godwits and most other ground nesters, on the other hand, are precocial birds.
—Jim Robbins, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Jan. 2022
Game birds, precocial, have larger clutches because the young, feathered and out of the nest upon hatching, are more subject to predation.
—Jim Williams, Star Tribune, 29 June 2021
The opposite are precocial birds, birds that hatch with feathers and are mobile and ready to go shortly after emerging from the egg.
—Anna Thomas Bates, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 28 June 2017
Comparison with avian brain evolution suggests that placental brain size should be constrained due to placentals’ relative precociality, as has been hypothesized for precocial bird hatchlings.
—Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 10 Sep. 2010
Recent Examples of Synonyms for precocial
Adjective
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The exemption for caring for a dependent now applies only to parents or guardians of children under 14, instead of under 18.—
Aliss Higham,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Oct. 2025
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With the season’s snowfall dependent on storms that happen on a day-by-day basis, some of these areas could see these wetter conditions in the form of winter precipitation.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Like many other insects, stink bugs are a favorite target for parasitic wasps.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
16 Oct. 2025
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In Australia’s intertidal zone, a parasitic isopod called Zeaione everta drew attention for its unusual appearance.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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It's made by combining tea (usually green or black), a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY), and a touch of sugar to feed the SCOBY.—
Lauren Panoff,
Verywell Health,
20 Oct. 2025
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Continuing with both music and baseball wasn’t really a decision; the two came as naturally as breathing, and the symbiotic relationship unfolded easily before him.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
13 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Precocial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/precocial. Accessed 25 Oct. 2025.
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