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Definition of piranha

piranha

/pɪˈrɑː.nə/
pi · ran · ha
Plural:piranhas
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piranha Lexical Profile

piranha Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Any of various mostly carnivorous freshwater fish of the family Serrasalmidae, native to South American rivers and renowned for their sharply pointed teeth and powerful jaws.

Example

"During our Amazon River expedition, the guide warned us against swimming in shallow areas where piranhas were known to feed."

2

A ruthless, aggressive, or greedy person who ruthlessly preys on others.

Example

"The young entrepreneur quickly realized that the corporate world was full of piranhas eager to steal his innovative ideas."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for piranha

• Rhymes for piranha

• Nearby Words

pipistrelle
pipit
piraiba catfish
piranha
pirarucu
piscatrix
pissing mare

Word Origin & Etymology

Mid 19th century: from Portuguese, borrowed from the Tupi language, likely a combination of 'pirá' (fish) and 'sanha' (tooth) or 'ánha' (cut).

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Piranha. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 17, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/piranha
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