giant anteater

noun

: a large bushy-tailed anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) of Central and South America

Examples of giant anteater in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
As of 2021—after more than a quarter century of effort and the reintroduction of foundational species such as giant anteaters, pampa deer, collared peccaries, and others—Rewilding Argentina has released nine jaguars, marking the first time this top predator was seen in the Iberá area in 70 years. Karen Catchpole, TIME, 25 July 2024 Studies have found similar shifts in other species, including giant anteaters and cheetahs. Ethan Freedman, Scientific American, 1 Jan. 2024 The study is based on data collected by location-tracking tags affixed to 2,300 animals from 43 species, including brown bears in Alaska, giant anteaters in Brazil, reindeer in Norway, lions in Kenya and Asian elephants in Myanmar. Emily Anthes, New York Times, 8 June 2023 And while only a handful of U.S. zoos have koalas, Palm Beach is home to two, Sydney and Ellin, along with sloths, giant anteaters, flamingos and many other species. Beth Harpaz, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2023 Ben's exhibit is housed in the southeast section of the zoo neighboring capybaras and giant anteaters. Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 25 Feb. 2023 With some tweaking, the map should help Conservation International and the Guyanese government pinpoint more areas to protect, such as those with rare species like the giant anteater, and others where some activity, such as low-impact logging, could continue under REDD+. Hannah Hoag, Discover Magazine, 7 Feb. 2014 Eight species have been released in Iberá, including the giant anteater, pampas deer, red-and-green macaw, tapir, and, most controversially, the jaguar. Alex Postman, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Apr. 2022 Although there are four species of anteaters, the giant anteater is the largest and the only one with claws. Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 4 Nov. 2021

Word History

First Known Use

1940, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of giant anteater was in 1940

Dictionary Entries Near giant anteater

Cite this Entry

“Giant anteater.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/giant%20anteater. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

giant anteater

noun
: a large anteater of Central and South America that has shaggy gray fur and a bushy tail

More from Merriam-Webster on giant anteater

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!