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Definition of anteater

anteater

/ˈæntˌiːtər/
ant · eat · er
Plural:anteaters
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anteater Lexical Profile

anteater Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A toothless, insectivorous mammal of the suborder Vermilingua, native to Central and South America, characterized by a long tubular snout, powerful claws, and a long, sticky tongue used for catching ants and termites.

Example

"The giant anteater ambled across the Brazilian savanna, using its powerful front claws to tear open a heavily fortified termite mound."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for anteater

Word Nuance & Usage

The anteater is often confused with the African aardvark and the Australasian echidna (spiny anteater), which are entirely unrelated mammals that share similar diets and physical features due to convergent evolution.

• Nearby Words

antarctic
antbird
ante
anteater
antebellum
antecedent
antechamber

Word Origin & Etymology

First recorded in English in the mid-18th century, formed as a transparent compound of 'ant' and 'eater', directly describing the animal's highly specialized diet.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Anteater. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/anteater
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