carnivorous

[ kahr-niv-er-uhs ]

adjective

1. flesh-eating:

   A dog is a carnivorous animal.

   Synonyms: predacious, predatory

2. of the carnivores.

carnivorous

/ kɑːˈnɪvərəs /

adjective

1. (esp of animals) feeding on flesh
2. (of plants such as the pitcher plant and sundew) able to trap and digest insects and other small animals
3. of or relating to the Carnivora
4. informal.
   aggressively ambitious or reactionary

Derived Forms

• carˈnivorousness, noun
• carˈnivorously, adverb

Other Words From

• car·nivo·rism noun
• car·nivo·rous·ly adverb
• car·nivo·rous·ness noun
• noncar·nivo·rous adjective
• noncar·nivo·rous·ly adverb
• noncar·nivo·rous·ness noun
• uncar·nivo·rous adjective
• uncar·nivo·rous·ly adverb
• uncar·nivo·rous·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of carnivorous¹

1640–50; < Latin carnivorus, equivalent to carni- (combining form of carō flesh) + -vorus -vorous

Word History and Origins

Origin of carnivorous¹

C17: from Latin carnivorus, from carō flesh + vorāre to consume

Example Sentences

The fire also swept through parts of the island that have rare habitats for sensitive plant and animal species found nowhere else, such as the endangered San Clemente loggerhead shrike, a carnivorous songbird.

From Los Angeles Times

The key to killing a local colony of red imported fire ants is using a combination of chemical drenches and greasy bait, because the carnivorous ants love protein.

From Los Angeles Times

Between the conception and the creation and the emotion and the response, the shadow is long and dark – but it is also deceitful and carnivorous.

From Salon

Oh, and watch out for the carnivorous plants!

From Seattle Times

What's the best way to "adapt," for a particularly carnivorous diner?

From Salon