carnivorous

[ kahr-niv-er-uhs ]

adjective

1. flesh-eating:

   A dog is a carnivorous animal.

   Synonyms: predacious, predatory

2. of the carnivores.

carnivorous

/ kɑːˈnɪvərəs /

adjective

1. (esp of animals) feeding on flesh
2. (of plants such as the pitcher plant and sundew) able to trap and digest insects and other small animals
3. of or relating to the Carnivora
4. informal.
   aggressively ambitious or reactionary

Derived Forms

• carˈnivorousness, noun
• carˈnivorously, adverb

Other Words From

• car·nivo·rism noun
• car·nivo·rous·ly adverb
• car·nivo·rous·ness noun
• noncar·nivo·rous adjective
• noncar·nivo·rous·ly adverb
• noncar·nivo·rous·ness noun
• uncar·nivo·rous adjective
• uncar·nivo·rous·ly adverb
• uncar·nivo·rous·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of carnivorous¹

1640–50; < Latin carnivorus, equivalent to carni- (combining form of carō flesh) + -vorus -vorous

Word History and Origins

Origin of carnivorous¹

C17: from Latin carnivorus, from carō flesh + vorāre to consume

Example Sentences

In Far North Queensland, FNQ Nature Tours takes visitors on day-long treks in search of the spotted-tail quoll — a marsupial that is endangered and, like its cousin the Tasmanian devil, also carnivorous.

From Washington Post

These enigmatic, caterpillar-like, carnivorous creatures live in leaf litter and under rotting logs.

From Science News

Humans can’t eat a completely carnivorous diet because of the liver’s ability to generate only part of our energy needs from protein.

From Science News

That suggests that the use of feathers for complex display purposes may have a very ancient history within the carnivorous dinosaurs.

From Science News

The reptiles are primarily carnivorous, and it is not uncommon for them to seek out small pets as a source of food along with other mammals — although fatal attacks on humans are relatively rare.

From Washington Post

The Yellowstone grizzly is one of the more carnivorous interior bear populations in North America.

From The Daily Beast

“Lots of vegetarians have got a carnivorous streak,” she said.

From The Daily Beast

See how Psy, Lady Gaga, and a carnivorous toddler stack up on the most-watched list.

From The Daily Beast

The human barrier of overturned cars and debris was swarming with carnivorous automatons.

From The Daily Beast

This delicious vegetarian-friendly dish will satisfy even the most carnivorous of crews.

From The Daily Beast

It is evident that many of them might readily become carnivorous to a large extent under suitable conditions.

From Project Gutenberg

Among the carnivorous mammals the social dog or wolf tribe displays the intelligent habit of mutual aid.

From Project Gutenberg

The Ternat bats are carnivorous animals, voracious, and possessed of an appetite for every thing that offers.

From Project Gutenberg

These baboons though mischievious and ferocious, are not carnivorous; they principally feed upon fruits, roots, and corn.

From Project Gutenberg

They are, indeed, among our most valuable sea scavengers, although they are carnivorous hunters as well.

From Project Gutenberg