opposable
adjective
op·pos·able
ə-ˈpō-zə-bəl 
1
: capable of being opposed or resisted
2
: capable of being placed against one or more of the remaining digits of a hand or foot
the opposable human thumb
Examples of opposable in a Sentence
Humans have an opposable thumb.
Recent Examples on the Web
Unlike the clawed animals that also climb, primates rely on opposable toes and thumbs to grasp with whole feet and hands.
—
Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 21 Nov. 2024
This could be the app version of convergent evolution, which led humans and koalas to each have opposable thumbs.
—Shira Ovide, Washington Post, 16 Apr. 2024
Thumb opposition isn’t unique to humans, and in fact an opposable thumb facilitates the enhanced grasping abilities of many primates.
—Sabrina Sholts, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Mar. 2024
Its wide eyes and opposable thumbs help the pygmy slow loris move around the forest in the night, searching for tasty insects.
—USA TODAY, 30 Jan. 2024
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Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 21 Nov. 2024
This could be the app version of convergent evolution, which led humans and koalas to each have opposable thumbs.
—Shira Ovide, Washington Post, 16 Apr. 2024
Thumb opposition isn’t unique to humans, and in fact an opposable thumb facilitates the enhanced grasping abilities of many primates.
—Sabrina Sholts, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Mar. 2024
Its wide eyes and opposable thumbs help the pygmy slow loris move around the forest in the night, searching for tasty insects.
—USA TODAY, 30 Jan. 2024
See all Example Sentences for opposable
Dictionary Entries Near opposable
Cite this Entry
“Opposable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/opposable. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
opposable
adjective
op·pos·able
ə-ˈpō-zə-bəl
: capable of being placed against one or more of the remaining digits of a hand or foot
the opposable human thumb
Medical Definition
opposable
adjective
op·pos·able
ə-ˈpō-zə-bəl
: capable of being placed against one or more of the remaining digits of a hand or foot
an opposable thumb
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