as in informant
a person who provides information about another's wrongdoing
a canary who was singing and giving up the names of some of the city's most notorious drug lords
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of canary
Hara's grandfather was a superintendent at one of the canaries on Terminal Island.
—
Claire Wang, NBC news, 31 May 2025
Serpents are almost nobody’s idea of a canary in the coal mine, not least because of how universally they’re loathed.
—Stephen S. Hall, Time, 21 Apr. 2025
In the minds of some, the flowers have the appearance of miniature canaries perched on a branch.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 1 Apr. 2025
Sara’s sister, Lisa Lisa is gay, and her queerness acts as somewhat of a canary in the coal mine that is Sara’s relationship with Ben.
—Anusha Praturu, Vulture, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for canary
Claire Wang, NBC news, 31 May 2025
Serpents are almost nobody’s idea of a canary in the coal mine, not least because of how universally they’re loathed.
—Stephen S. Hall, Time, 21 Apr. 2025
In the minds of some, the flowers have the appearance of miniature canaries perched on a branch.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 1 Apr. 2025
Sara’s sister, Lisa Lisa is gay, and her queerness acts as somewhat of a canary in the coal mine that is Sara’s relationship with Ben.
—Anusha Praturu, Vulture, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for canary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for canary
Noun
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The defendants suggested one of the informants is either someone in current House Speaker Cameron Sexton's office – or is the speaker himself.—
Rosalind Bowling,
The Tennessean,
2 July 2025
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Encouragingly, this discernment may translate to digital informants like computers too.—
Evan Orticio,
Scientific American,
2 June 2025
Noun
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The Nazis set up secret squads in the camps to conduct beatings and killings of prisoners thought to be too friendly with U.S. officials or were accused of being informers.—
Peter Lucas,
Boston Herald,
10 July 2025
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Reporting from human intelligence assets – spies or unwitting informers with firsthand or secondhand knowledge – may provide information on internal Iranian assessments.—
Joshua Rovner,
The Conversation,
2 July 2025
Noun
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Humans hate navigating a rat maze and having robots talk at them.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
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Also known as the Andalusian terrier, these dogs were bred to help protect vineyard wine cellars from potential rat infestations.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Canary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/canary. Accessed 16 Jul. 2025.
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