carnivore
noun
car·ni·vore
ˈkär-nə-ˌvȯr 
1
a
: an animal (such as a dog, fox, crocodile, or shark) that feeds primarily or exclusively on animal matter : a carnivorous animal
As big as a bull elephant, T. rex weighed 15 times as much as the largest carnivores living on land today.—
Erik Stokstad
Erik StokstadCarnivores [=people who eat meat] will appreciate the restaurant's refined version of surf-and-turf: steak au poivre matched with sweet, large prawns.—Matthew DeBord
Matthew DeBord
b
: any of an order (Carnivora) of animals that feed primarily or exclusively on animal matter : carnivoran
Farther back in their mouths lie some special teeth known as the carnassials. These are the hallmark of the true carnivores, or carnivorans—members of a great order of placental mammals, the Carnivora.—Richard H. Tedford
Richard H. Tedford2
: a carnivorous plant
the Venus flytrap and other carnivores subsisting on insects
Examples of carnivore in a Sentence
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Spiral Diner serves vegan comfort food that will satisfy herbivores and carnivores alike.
—Regan Stephens, Travel + Leisure, 24 Apr. 2026
The hard life of an urban carnivore Miller grew up in a small town in Michigan and was always attracted to the outdoors.
—Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 21 Apr. 2026
The low price has also become a punchline, with jokes tying the $23 rate to the proximity of large carnivores.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 20 Apr. 2026
Scolding carnivores everywhere on Meat is Murder’s provocative six-minute title track, Morrissey began his long career as pop music’s most confrontational vegetarian.
—Al Shipley, SPIN, 20 Apr. 2026
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Regan Stephens, Travel + Leisure, 24 Apr. 2026
The hard life of an urban carnivore Miller grew up in a small town in Michigan and was always attracted to the outdoors.
—Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 21 Apr. 2026
The low price has also become a punchline, with jokes tying the $23 rate to the proximity of large carnivores.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 20 Apr. 2026
Scolding carnivores everywhere on Meat is Murder’s provocative six-minute title track, Morrissey began his long career as pop music’s most confrontational vegetarian.
—Al Shipley, SPIN, 20 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for carnivore
Cite this Entry
“Carnivore.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carnivore. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
carnivore
noun
car·ni·vore
ˈkär-nə-ˌvō(ə)r
-ˌvȯ(ə)r
1
: a flesh-eating animal
especially
: any of an order of flesh-eating mammals
2
: a plant that traps and digests insects
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