herbivore

noun

Definition of herbivorenext
as in animal
an animal that only eats plants

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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 herbivore Woolly mammoths coexisted with early humans who hunted the cold-resistant herbivores for food and used their tusks and bones as tools. — CBS News, 4 Aug. 2026 Invertebrates make up more than 70% of all terrestrial animal species and are important pollinators, predators and herbivores in virtually every nonmarine ecosystem. — Christopher A. Lepczyk, The Conversation, 8 July 2026 When growing in the prairie, rattlesnake master’s spiny leaves deter other herbivores as well as some insects. — Sheryl Devore, Chicago Tribune, 8 July 2026 But the researchers wanted to see whether the markings on the Stegodon bones showed evidence that the hobbits were also hunting the only large-bodied herbivore on the island at the time. — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 3 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for herbivore
Recent Examples of Synonyms for herbivore
  1. animal
  2. vegetarian
  3. vegan
  4. insectivore
  5. creature
  6. critter
  7. beastie
Noun
  • Whale calls can travel as far as 100 kilometers underwater, which means the animals can be located by comparing when those calls reach receivers embedded along the ocean floor.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The animal was brought to safety as crews continued efforts to extinguish the fire and secure the scene.
    — Denis Akbari, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of animal
Noun
  • More menu items include vegetarian samosas, pani puri shots, mango lassi and dragon chicken.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Many food bloggers focus on one cuisine, like vegetarian chef Manjula Jain who writes about Indian cuisine, Lola Osinkolu who specializes in Nigerian and indigenous African cooking, and Maangchi, a go-to resource for Korean cooking.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of vegetarian
Noun
  • Make vegan avocado ice cream by blending avocado, coconut milk, and lemon zest and freezing it in an ice cream maker.
    — Kirsten Nunez, Martha Stewart, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Additionally, 4% of Americans identify as vegetarian or vegan.
    — Dario Sabaghi, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of vegan
Noun
  • Belonging to the same group of mammals as sloths and anteaters, armadillos are voracious insectivores that eat large numbers of beetles, grubs, ants, termites, and other insects, grabbing them with their sticky tongues.
    — Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 19 May 2026
  • Many of the bird species migrating through the Midwest are insectivores, living in the neotropics in winter to have food for survival.
    — Sheryl De Vore, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2026
Definition of insectivore
Noun
  • Niemiller and his team have named the new species Demogorgonichthys arcanus, a wink to the otherworldly creature that emerged in a secret federal lab in the Netflix series Stranger Things.
    — Elizabeth Anne Brown, Scientific American, 2 Sep. 2026
  • And then in Book 2, that attraction that the creatures have to him in the magical world of Gilmouria becomes stronger.
    — Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of creature
Noun
  • These critters may look cute and cuddly, but their sharp claws are anything but.
    — Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Thanks to all these survey techniques, Arizona scientists are making inroads in illuminating the secret lives of these nocturnal critters.
    — Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of critter
Noun
  • Greg and Denise are having some marital issues, but everybody needs to put other concerns aside to stay alive with nasty raptors and other hungry beasties around.
    — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 15 Aug. 2026
  • And when that happens, astronomers will set about studying these new beasties with other eyes on the sky to learn more about them and hopefully understand them.
    — Phil Plait, Scientific American, 24 July 2026
Definition of beastie

Browse Nearby Words

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herbivore
herbivores
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Cite this Entry

“Herbivore.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/herbivore. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on herbivore

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about herbivore

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