omnivorous

adjective

om·​niv·​o·​rous äm-ˈni-v(ə-)rəs How to pronounce omnivorous (audio)
1
: feeding on both animal and vegetable substances
omnivorous animals
2
: avidly taking in everything as if devouring or consuming
an omnivorous reader
omnivorous curiosity
omnivorously adverb

Examples of omnivorous in a Sentence

She is an omnivorous reader. a child with omnivorous curiosity
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.
Reconstructing dinosaurs’ rise The authors came up with five phases to explain dinosaurs’ ascendancy: Their ancestors were omnivorous, eating plants and animals. Katie Hunt, CNN, 27 Nov. 2024 Sign up As omnivorous eaters, an unchecked population of stoats also poses a threat to mice, rabbits, hedgehogs and birds, including Orkney's population of curlews and hen harriers. Abby Wilson, theweek, 1 Nov. 2024 The neo-Pagan and Satanist has been practicing Eclectic witchcraft, an omnivorous tradition that blends numerous magical and spiritual approaches, for over a decade. Emma Cieslik, Them, 1 Nov. 2024 And unlike their polar kin, black bears are omnivorous. Scott Travers, Forbes, 26 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for omnivorous 

Word History

Etymology

Latin omnivorus, from omni- + -vorus -vorous

First Known Use

circa 1656, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of omnivorous was circa 1656

Dictionary Entries Near omnivorous

Cite this Entry

“Omnivorous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/omnivorous. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

omnivorous

adjective
om·​niv·​o·​rous äm-ˈniv-(ə-)rəs How to pronounce omnivorous (audio)
: feeding on both animal and vegetable substances

Medical Definition

omnivorous

adjective
om·​niv·​o·​rous äm-ˈniv-(ə-)rəs How to pronounce omnivorous (audio)
: eating both animal and plant matter
omnivorously adverb
omnivorousness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on omnivorous

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