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Many herbivorous animals, such as rabbits, deer, sheep, and cows, are noted for their gentle and passive ways. But such behavior is not universal among herbivores. Rhinoceroses and elephants, for instance, are capable of inflicting serious damage if threatened, and among dinosaurs, the herbivorous Diplodocus had a thick tail that could be used as a lethal weapon against attacking carnivores. Herbivorous humans are usually called vegetarians.
Examples of herbivorous in a Sentence
Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Apr. 2024
Sauropods were massive, herbivorous quadrupeds easily recognizable for their long necks, if not their huge bodies.
—Isaac Schultz / Gizmodo, Quartz, 28 Mar. 2024
Share [Findings] The tail of an unidentified herbivorous dinosaur in Alberta was found to contain a type of histiocytic tumor that primarily affects young children.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 27 Mar. 2024
Higher nitrogen isotope values suggest that an animal is feeding higher on the food chain—that is, more likely to be eating carnivorous or herbivorous prey than plants.
—Sarah Sloat, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Feb. 2024
While some are carnivorous, typically targeting worms, snails, and other slugs, others are herbivorous, specializing in fungi and the young shoots of wild forbs, sedges, and other plants.
—Paul Richards, Field & Stream, 29 Feb. 2024
The morphology of their teeth has suggested that these sloths consumed vegetation, similar to the herbivorous nature of their modern cousins.
—Conor Feehly, Discover Magazine, 7 Feb. 2024
These versatile plants can be grown completely or partially submerged, and herbivorous fish will not eat them.
—Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Feb. 2024
Coffee plants surrounded by trees with Azteca nests have a high density of scale insects, an herbivorous coffee pest that reduces yield.
—Lesley Evans Ogden, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'herbivorous.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near herbivorous
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“Herbivorous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/herbivorous. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
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herbivorous
adjective
Medical Definition
herbivorous
adjective
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