bunny hugger

noun

informal, usually disparaging

: an animal rights advocate or activist

The benefit of a big snowpack is also about the only thing bunny huggers and redneck ranchers seem to agree on.

—Roger Phillips, Idaho Statesman (Boise, Idaho), 6 Feb. 2011

Multiple attempts were made to destroy not only Carson's scientific credibility but also her personal reputation: she was a fanatic, she was a "bunny hugger", she was a dangerous reactionary who would drag modern society backwards into a new Middle Ages filled with pests, vermin, crop destruction and lethal diseases.

—Margaret Atwood, The Guardian (London), 8 Dec. 2012

Word History

First Known Use

1983, in the meaning defined above

The Ultimate Dictionary Awaits

Expand your vocabulary and dive deeper into language with Merriam-Webster Unabridged.

1. Expanded definitions
2. Detailed etymologies
3. Advanced search tools
4. All ad-free

Discover what makes Merriam-Webster Unabridged the essential choice for true word lovers.

Start Your Free Trial Now