animals

noun

plural of animal
as in creatures
one of the lower animals as distinguished from human beings we saw a lot of animals at the wildlife refuge—cranes, alligators, deer, a fox, even an armadillo

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 animals Care for yourself, care for others, care for the planet and care for our animals friends. — Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 6 July 2026 Here are seven solutions to keep these animals slithering past your yard. — Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 6 July 2026 Pet owners should keep animals leashed, avoid leaving food outside and eliminate standing water. — Amaia Gavica, Miami Herald, 6 July 2026 People have reported that animals have given them gifts, seemingly in return for a nice gesture from a human. — Joan Morris, Mercury News, 6 July 2026 First, the animals whose skins would become parchment—typically sheep or calves—had to be slaughtered; a complete bible required the skins of around five hundred sheep. — Literary Hub, 6 July 2026 Though extirpated as animals, flamingos nonetheless became icons of the state. — Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 6 July 2026 After Del Mar, the animals’ next stop is the Orange County Fair that starts July 17. — Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 July 2026 Fireworks can frighten animals and send them scattering, but Jackie and Shadow’s eaglets apparently are made of sterner stuff. — Sandra McDonald, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for animals
  1. creatures
  2. beasts
Noun
  • Wynonna, with help from her younger sister, the town’s sheriff and an infamous Wild West gunslinger, must save her hometown from demons and other supernatural creatures.
    — Emily Weaver, PEOPLE, 5 July 2026
  • Earth-friendly, conscientious gardeners learn to slow down and pay attention — not only to plants but to the many creatures that share the garden.
    — Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 July 2026
Definition of creatures
Noun
  • The world drew heavily from the paintings of fantasy illustrator Frank Frazetta, who depicted scenes of barbarians and beasts in conflict, of pulp fiction heroes, femme fatales, and fierce warrior women.
    — Steve Appleford, SPIN, 29 June 2026
  • The findings, detailed today in the Astrophysical Journal Letters, suggest not only that all black holes emit such a wind but also that these beasts are not total loners that are isolated from their environments.
    — Jeanna Bryner, Scientific American, 4 June 2026
Definition of beasts

Browse Nearby Words

animal magnetism
animals
animal spirits
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Cite this Entry

“Animals.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/animals. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on animals

Nglish: Translation of animals for Spanish Speakers

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