Illustration of coyote
- coyote 1
plural coyotes or coyote
1
: a buff-gray to reddish-gray swift carnivorous mammal (Canis latrans) of North America that is closely related to but smaller than the wolf, has a narrow pointed muzzle and triangular ears, hunts singly or in small groups, and is known for its various distinctive vocalizations (such as barks, yips, and howls)
Note: The coyote is often considered a threat to livestock. Despite being hunted and trapped, the coyote has expanded its original range and is found in all states except Hawaii.
2
slang
: one who smuggles immigrants into the U.S.
Examples of coyote in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
What about scrub gopher tortoises, coyotes, and bobcats?
—
Joe Rassel, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Apr. 2025
The Israeli military said that soldiers buried the bodies to prevent them from being mangled by stray dogs and coyotes until they could be collected, and that the ambulances were moved to allow the route to be used for civilian evacuations later that day.
—Melanie Lidman, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2025
From those two specimens, Shapiro and the team at Colossal recovered enough DNA to create two dire wolf genomes to compare with other canid species including coyotes, jackals, dholes and, of course, other wolves, Shapiro said.
—Mike Snider, USA Today, 7 Apr. 2025
The coyote was released later in Barrington Hills on 9 acres of private property, where rabbits and mice — not submarine sandwiches and chips — would be his daily fare.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2025
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Joe Rassel, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Apr. 2025
The Israeli military said that soldiers buried the bodies to prevent them from being mangled by stray dogs and coyotes until they could be collected, and that the ambulances were moved to allow the route to be used for civilian evacuations later that day.
—Melanie Lidman, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2025
From those two specimens, Shapiro and the team at Colossal recovered enough DNA to create two dire wolf genomes to compare with other canid species including coyotes, jackals, dholes and, of course, other wolves, Shapiro said.
—Mike Snider, USA Today, 7 Apr. 2025
The coyote was released later in Barrington Hills on 9 acres of private property, where rabbits and mice — not submarine sandwiches and chips — would be his daily fare.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for coyote
Cite this Entry
“Coyote.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coyote. Accessed 11 May. 2025.
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