as in dogs
a person whose behavior is offensive to others
the actor plays a total reptile who's somehow still a hit with the ladies
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Recent Examples of reptiles
The agency said rising water levels in rivers, gullies and swamps may push the reptiles into residential areas in search of dry ground.
—
Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Oct. 2025
The slender, needle-sharp teeth allowed these ancient reptiles to capture slippery prey like fish and turtles.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 27 Oct. 2025
The species also has functional and morphological similarities to some modern squamates, the largest order of reptiles that contains lizards and snakes.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 27 Oct. 2025
Thanks to conservation efforts, their population in Florida went from the hundreds in the 1970s to well over 2,000 reptiles, the FWC estimates.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 26 Oct. 2025
Its hooves are an example of a phenomenon called convergent evolution in which disparate organisms independently evolve similar features — like the wings of birds, bats and the extinct flying reptiles called pterosaurs — while adapting to similar environments or ecological niches.
—Reuters, NBC news, 24 Oct. 2025
For those brave scientists who study snakes–aka herpetologists–the mechanics behind the reptiles’ fast fangs are more fascinating than fear-inducing.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 23 Oct. 2025
The finalists will be judged in a range of categories, including ones for reptiles, insects and fish, as well as for younger photographers.
—Lianne Kolirin, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2025
Cameroon Death Lake Lake Nyos in Cameroon, Central Africa; deadly carbon dioxide gas suddenly burst forth in 1986, creating a toxic cloud that killed nearly 1,800 people, 3,000 cattle, and countless domestic and wild animals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and insects.
—Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2025
Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Oct. 2025
The slender, needle-sharp teeth allowed these ancient reptiles to capture slippery prey like fish and turtles.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 27 Oct. 2025
The species also has functional and morphological similarities to some modern squamates, the largest order of reptiles that contains lizards and snakes.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 27 Oct. 2025
Thanks to conservation efforts, their population in Florida went from the hundreds in the 1970s to well over 2,000 reptiles, the FWC estimates.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 26 Oct. 2025
Its hooves are an example of a phenomenon called convergent evolution in which disparate organisms independently evolve similar features — like the wings of birds, bats and the extinct flying reptiles called pterosaurs — while adapting to similar environments or ecological niches.
—Reuters, NBC news, 24 Oct. 2025
For those brave scientists who study snakes–aka herpetologists–the mechanics behind the reptiles’ fast fangs are more fascinating than fear-inducing.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 23 Oct. 2025
The finalists will be judged in a range of categories, including ones for reptiles, insects and fish, as well as for younger photographers.
—Lianne Kolirin, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2025
Cameroon Death Lake Lake Nyos in Cameroon, Central Africa; deadly carbon dioxide gas suddenly burst forth in 1986, creating a toxic cloud that killed nearly 1,800 people, 3,000 cattle, and countless domestic and wild animals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and insects.
—Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reptiles
Noun
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Humans have a much larger neocortex than other animals, relative to body size, and the species with the largest neocortices—elephants, dolphins, gorillas, chimpanzees, dogs—are among the most intelligent.—
James Somers,
New Yorker,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Humanoids, robotic dogs, and articulated arms don wigs, witch hats, and googly eyes, dancing under red and blue strobes.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
By the mid 19th century, clowns were more central to circus entertainment, and their acts more risqué.—
Time,
Time,
30 Oct. 2025
-
The clowns come at you quickly at Fast Splash Car Wash in Detroit, Mich.—
Neda Ulaby,
NPR,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Gave the two jerks her very best.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
23 Oct. 2025
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Because even in a world of monsters, ghouls, and greedy jerks, the good guys still prevail.—
Gwen Ihnat,
Entertainment Weekly,
18 Oct. 2025
Noun
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According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, there are 44 species of native snakes in Florida, but just six are venomous.—
Latoya Gayle,
PEOPLE,
2 Nov. 2025
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But despite their comparatively small numbers, elapids like mambas, cobras, and rinkhals are among the world’s deadliest snakes.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
While striped skunk is edible, Coalition Brewing warns against its strong odor, scavenger diet and susceptibility to parasites.—
Stuart Dyos,
USA Today,
29 Oct. 2025
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While striped skunk is edible, Coalition Brewing warns against its strong odor, scavenger diet and susceptibility to parasites.—
Stuart Dyos,
Nashville Tennessean,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The Yachang leaf litter toads were found in clear-water streams filled with rocks in the forest, surrounded by trees and karst formations, researchers said.—
Irene Wright,
Miami Herald,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Just this month, during the microburst storm, these toads arrived to soak up the late-season rain.—
Madison Knutson,
AZCentral.com,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The difficult truth is that hurricanes are complex beasts, inherently difficult to boil down into a single number.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
29 Oct. 2025
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Why no mumblings of atonement for the predatory nature of capitalism itself, its core values and standard operating procedures no different from those of the beasts in the field?—
Henry Freedland,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Reptiles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reptiles. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
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