theropod
noun
the·ro·pod
ˈthir-ə-ˌpäd 
plural theropods
: any of a suborder (Theropoda) of carnivorous, bipedal, saurischian dinosaurs (such as a tyrannosaur or velociraptor) having hollow, thin-walled bones and usually small forelimbs
Note: Birds are descended from one lineage of small theropods.
Examples of theropod in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The dinosaur tracks belong to theropods, sauropods, and iguanodontians, and are spread across three rock outcroppings in the Brazilian state of Paraíba.
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Isaac Schultz / Gizmodo, Quartz, 28 Mar. 2024
The large theropod roamed what is now known as the northern part of Africa during the Cretaceous period.
—Elizabeth Gamillo, Discover Magazine, 27 Feb. 2024
But a new study has concluded that theropods living alongside massive sauropod dinosaurs, such as the Brontosaurus, would have had access to a smorgasbord of dinosaur flesh, more than enough to sustain them for years on end.
—Matt Hrodey, Discover Magazine, 14 Nov. 2023
Full of possibilities The researchers also found a similar split among the 40 percent of theropods that became smaller over evolutionary time, including the sickle-clawed raptors.
—Jack Tamisiea, Discover Magazine, 12 Dec. 2023
Published in Science in February, the results revealed that the theropods used an assortment of developmental mechanisms to size up and size down.
—Jack Tamisiea, Discover Magazine, 12 Dec. 2023
The findings could shed new light on the evolution of birds, which arose from a group of carnivorous, two-legged dinosaurs called theropods.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Dec. 2023
Research focusing on the potential brain capacity of theropods argues the case for pack hunting; but these findings are hotly debated amongst paleontologists.
—Sean Mowbray, Discover Magazine, 3 Aug. 2023
Interactive: Lake Mead’s receding waterlines have revealed unexpected discoveries
Dinosaur Valley State Park, around an hour and a half south of Dallas, is home to a large number of dinosaur tracks imprinted by sauropods and theropods that lived in the area roughly 113 million years ago.
—Rachel Ramirez, CNN, 2 Sep. 2023
Isaac Schultz / Gizmodo, Quartz, 28 Mar. 2024
The large theropod roamed what is now known as the northern part of Africa during the Cretaceous period.
—Elizabeth Gamillo, Discover Magazine, 27 Feb. 2024
But a new study has concluded that theropods living alongside massive sauropod dinosaurs, such as the Brontosaurus, would have had access to a smorgasbord of dinosaur flesh, more than enough to sustain them for years on end.
—Matt Hrodey, Discover Magazine, 14 Nov. 2023
Full of possibilities The researchers also found a similar split among the 40 percent of theropods that became smaller over evolutionary time, including the sickle-clawed raptors.
—Jack Tamisiea, Discover Magazine, 12 Dec. 2023
Published in Science in February, the results revealed that the theropods used an assortment of developmental mechanisms to size up and size down.
—Jack Tamisiea, Discover Magazine, 12 Dec. 2023
The findings could shed new light on the evolution of birds, which arose from a group of carnivorous, two-legged dinosaurs called theropods.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Dec. 2023
Research focusing on the potential brain capacity of theropods argues the case for pack hunting; but these findings are hotly debated amongst paleontologists.
—Sean Mowbray, Discover Magazine, 3 Aug. 2023
Interactive: Lake Mead’s receding waterlines have revealed unexpected discoveries
Dinosaur Valley State Park, around an hour and a half south of Dallas, is home to a large number of dinosaur tracks imprinted by sauropods and theropods that lived in the area roughly 113 million years ago.
—Rachel Ramirez, CNN, 2 Sep. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'theropod.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“Theropod.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/theropod. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
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