elephant

noun

ˈe-lə-fənt How to pronounce elephant (audio)
Definition of elephantnext
as in whale
something or someone that is unusually large and powerful by any standard, the new shopping mall will be an elephant and one that is certain to alter the retail landscape

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 elephant Along some stretches of highway unused turbine blades line the roadsides like giant, fiberglass elephant tusks. — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2026 Colossal is undertaking a similar process in their woolly mammoth project – that involves genetically modifying an Asian elephant. — Colleen McKown, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2026 Participants in the card drive can choose from three ready-to-color animal designs, including a giraffe, a peacock, or an elephant, followed by a personal message of encouragement. — Julie Sharp, CBS News, 6 Oct. 2026 Acehnese conservationist Farwiza Farhan has spent years fighting to protect Sumatra’s Leuser Ecosystem—perhaps the last place on Earth where elephants, tigers, rhinos and orangutans still coexist in the wild. — Ashleigh Nghiem, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for elephant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elephant
  1. whale
  2. giant
  3. dinosaur
  4. monster
  5. mammoth
Noun
  • Eventually, the whale breaches the surface and Jay nearly manages to break free by climbing out of its open mouth.
    — Megan McCluskey, Time, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Meanwhile, the natural beauty of the Golden State is offset by the graphic body horror of the whale’s innards, built on practical sets by production designer Ramsey Avery and lit by bioluminescence.
    — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of whale
Noun
  • No word on if there may be a deal for the duo to land over at the streaming giant as the company prepares for a few big theatrical releases ahead.
    — Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026
  • In response, the streaming giant has sought to diversify its content in recent years, expanding into live sports, documentaries and video games in order to compete for share of consumer attention.
    — Sarah Whitten, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of giant
Noun
  • According to the researchers, the dinosaur suffered a broken rib during its lifetime.
    — Muskan Bhatia, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026
  • While dinosaurs roamed the earth, giant monsters roamed the sea.
    — October 16, NPR, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of dinosaur
Noun
  • Diagnose the monster before deciding which mind and which move are required to outwit it.
    — Jeff DeGraff, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
  • That led him to snowy Deadwood, South Dakota, and a turn as local guide Gil Jackson in the horror heist movie Beast From Haunted Cave (1959), produced by Roger’s brother, Gene Corman, and featuring Chris Robinson as the monster.
    — Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of monster
Noun
  • In ancient California, they are believed to have existed alongside other extinct native species, including bison-sized Jefferson’s ground sloths, Columbian mammoths and western camels.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026
  • See fossils of the 14-foot, 20,000-pound mammoths that used to roam around Texas.
    — Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of mammoth

Browse Nearby Words

elements
elephant
elephantine
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Cite this Entry

“Elephant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elephant. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on elephant

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about elephant

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