anteater

noun

ant·​eat·​er ˈant-ˌē-tər How to pronounce anteater (audio)
: any of several mammals that feed largely or entirely on ants or termites: such as
a
: any of a family (Myrmecophagidae) of New World edentates with a long narrow snout, a long tongue, and large salivary glands that includes the giant anteater and tamandua
b
c
d

Examples of anteater in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The rest — a group that over the years has included lions, parrots, eagles, badgers, sloths, a capybara, a bearcat and an anteater — are usually just stopping through. Claire Fahy, New York Times, 17 Mar. 2024 While dinosaurs walked the earth, early mammalia forms evolved that resembled badgers, flying squirrels, anteaters, and beavers. Matt Hrodey, Discover Magazine, 1 Nov. 2023 Until recently, scientists believed that all silky anteaters belonged to the same species. James Hall, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Oct. 2023 Through encounters with practitioners, including a veterinarian who helps track the movements of anteaters across Brazilian highways, Goldfarb charts a path toward a less destructive future. Condé Nast, The New Yorker, 6 Nov. 2023 As in a previous era, beavers evolved, along with anteaters, flying squirrels, badgers, and more. Matt Hrodey, Discover Magazine, 1 Nov. 2023 Startled from its slumber, the tennis ball-sized silky anteater raises its forepaws defensively like a boxer. James Hall, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Oct. 2023 Tests found that the rabies virus that infected the anteater was most similar to variants found among wild raccoons in Virginia — suggesting the anteater was infected in Virginia. Andrew Joseph, STAT, 19 Apr. 2022 Another, curious example is Mononykus, which roamed modern day China and Mongolia during the late cretaceous period and had an adaption somewhat similar to an anteater, according to Frederickson. Sean Mowbray, Discover Magazine, 19 June 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'anteater.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1668, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of anteater was in 1668

Dictionary Entries Near anteater

Cite this Entry

“Anteater.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anteater. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

anteater

noun
ant·​eat·​er ˈant-ˌēt-ər How to pronounce anteater (audio)
: any of several mammals (as an echidna or aardvark) that feed on ants

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