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Recent Examples of precocial
The embryos could develop into precocial hatchlings — young that were born at an advanced stage and capable of independent survival without parental milk or feeding.
—
Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 9 Apr. 2026
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
Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 9 Apr. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for precocial
Adjective
-
For tourism-dependent economies like Thailand and Vietnam, surging jet fuel costs and airline service cuts are compounding the damage.—
Wendy Cutler,
Fortune,
2 May 2026
-
But people shouldn’t become overly dependent on it.—
Ben Finley,
Chicago Tribune,
2 May 2026
Adjective
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Another provision allows pharmacists to provide ivermectin, an anti-parasitic drug often prescribed for animals, over-the-counter for adults without a prescription.—
CBS Miami Team,
CBS News,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Although more evidence is needed to confirm this, chamomile is certainly effective at attracting beneficial insects, such as hoverflies and parasitic wasps, which help keep celery plants free from pests.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Porcini form symbiotic mycorrhizal relationships with more than 30 species of broadleaf and coniferous trees, including spruce, pine, hemlock, fir, birch, oak, and beech.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
1 May 2026
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Schnura’s paintings highlight the symbiotic relationships between plants and animals, according to the Forest Preserve District of Will County.—
Michelle Mullins,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Defendants contest only that CASA has not satisfied the first requirement for such associational standing.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
2 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Precocial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/precocial. Accessed 5 May. 2026.
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