Search Dictionary
Definition of dunkleosteus

dunkleosteus

/ˌdʌŋ.kəlˈɑː.sti.əs/
dun · kle · os · te · us
Plural:dunkleosteuses
JUMP TO:

dunkleosteus Lexical Profile

• noun

1

An extinct genus of massive, armored, jawed marine fishes belonging to the class Placodermi, which lived during the Late Devonian period and is characterized by its powerful, blade-like bony jaws.

Example

"The natural history museum featured a life-sized reconstruction of a dunkleosteus, highlighting its heavily armored head and terrifying shearing bite."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for dunkleosteus

• Rhymes for dunkleosteus

• Nearby Words

dunghill
dunk
dunker
dunkleosteus
dunlin
dunnart
dunno

Word Origin & Etymology

Named in 1956 in honor of David Dunkle, an American paleontologist at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, combined with the Greek suffix '-osteus' (from 'osteon', meaning bone) reflecting its heavily armored skull.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Dunkleosteus. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 6, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/dunkleosteus
Built for writers, students, and competitive word game players, Wordmom combines an uncluttered English dictionary and thesaurus with fast, pattern-based word finders so you can verify definitions, synonyms, and high-scoring tile plays in one place.
Word Games & Solvers
Word FinderScrabble Word FinderWords With Friends CheatWordle SolverAnagram Solver
Dictionary & Reference
DictionarySynonymsAntonymsWords
Community
Contact UsEditorial PolicyPrivacy PolicyTerms and Conditions
© 2016–2026 Wordmom Network. All rights reserved. Made with for word lovers everywhere.
Disclaimer: SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A. and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro. Words With Friends® is a registered trademark of Zynga Inc. Wordle® is a registered trademark of The New York Times Company. Other referenced game titles and tournament lexicon codes (including NASPA NWL and WESPA/HarperCollins CSW) are trademarks of their respective owners. Wordmom is an independent reference utility for educational and entertainment purposes and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Hasbro, Mattel, Spear, Zynga, The New York Times Company, NASPA, WESPA, or HarperCollins Publishers. All game names are referenced strictly under nominative fair use to indicate compatibility.