puma

noun

ˈpü-mə How to pronounce puma (audio)
Definition of pumanext
as in panther
a large tawny cat of the wild adult pumas can sometimes weigh over 200 pounds

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 puma Thousands of Patagonian penguins are being killed by pumas, though many without being eaten. — Christine Smallwood, Harpers Magazine, 21 Apr. 2026 Animal rights activists questioned whether the wolf could survive outside the zoo and also worried it might be killed during capture, something that happened to a puma that escaped from the same zoo in 2018. — ABC News, 17 Apr. 2026 In 2021, after 17 years of surveys, the project detected pumas in the range for the first time, and there have been multiple sightings since. — Tom Page, CNN Money, 13 Apr. 2026 Large cats including lions, leopards, cheetahs, jaguars, ocelots, jaguarundis, pumas, lynxes, and bobcats are banned from private ownership, according to Connecticut state statutes. — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 7 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for puma
Recent Examples of Synonyms for puma
  1. panther
  2. cougar
Noun
  • At the Academy of Country Music Awards in May, where Twain served as host, the musician modeled a shining silver gown by Falguni Shane Peacock featuring a panther design.
    — Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 23 July 2026
  • Honey is poured across her lover’s body, while a black panther watches Musgraves from a distance.
    — Lily Brown, PEOPLE, 22 July 2026
Definition of panther
Noun
  • They are advised to remain at least 100 yards away from bears, wolves and cougars.
    — Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 13 July 2026
  • The National Park Service recommends remaining at least 100 yards away from bears, wolves and cougars, and at least 25 yards away from all other animals, including bison and elk.
    — Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 12 July 2026
Definition of cougar

Browse Nearby Words

pulverizing
puma
pumas
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Cite this Entry

“Puma.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puma. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on puma

Nglish: Translation of puma for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about puma

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