rep·tile
ˈrep-ˌtī(-ə)l 
-tᵊl
1
: an animal that crawls or moves on its belly (such as a snake) or on small short legs (such as a lizard)
2
: any of a class (Reptilia) of cold-blooded, air-breathing, usually egg-laying vertebrates that include the alligators and crocodiles, lizards, snakes, turtles, and extinct related forms (such as dinosaurs and pterosaurs) and that have a body typically covered with scales or bony plates and a bony skeleton with a single occipital condyle, a distinct quadrate bone usually immovably articulated with the skull, and ribs attached to the sternum
3
: a groveling or despised person
Synonyms
Noun
- bastard
- beast
- bleeder [British]
- blighter [chiefly British]
- boor
- bounder
- bugger
- buzzard
- cad
- chuff
- churl
- clown
- creep
- cretin
- crud [slang]
- crumb [slang]
- cur
- dirtbag [slang]
- dog
- fink
- heel
- hound
- jerk
- joker
- louse
- lout
- pill
- rat
- rat fink
- rotter
- schmuck [slang]
- scum
- scumbag [slang]
- scuzzball [slang]
- skunk
- sleaze
- sleazebag [slang]
- sleazeball [slang]
- slime
- slimeball [slang]
- slob
- snake
- so-and-so
- sod [chiefly British]
- stinkard
- stinker
- swine
- toad
- varmint
- vermin
Examples of reptile in a Sentence
Noun
He called the governor's top aide a reptile.
the actor plays a total reptile who's somehow still a hit with the ladies
Recent Examples on the Web
Ahjané Forbes, USA TODAY, 23 Apr. 2024
Authorities believe the reptile that killed the teenager was nearly four yards long.
—Andrea Vacchiano, Fox News, 20 Apr. 2024
The reptile peaked in size about 200 million years ago during the Late Triassic.
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 17 Apr. 2024
The reptiles typically hang out under rocks, logs and woodpiles, according to the National Park Service.
—Jacqueline Pinedo, Sacramento Bee, 16 Apr. 2024
Nearly half of the continent’s birds and roughly 90 percent of its mammals, reptiles and frogs are found nowhere else on the planet.
—Emily Anthes Chang W. Lee, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2024
These reptiles fascinate children (and adults) who love adventure, science, and fearsome creatures.
—Ashley Ziegler, Parents, 13 Apr. 2024
Gator Living Outside Coca-Cola Factory Moved and Put on Diet
The wild reptile, measuring 7 feet and 11 inches, busted its way into Hollenback's home through the front screen door and was now on its way to the kitchen.
—Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 9 Apr. 2024
Meet some of the park’s reptiles and amphibians as the eat their favorite foods.
—Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 28 Mar. 2024
Colleen Barry, Fortune, 25 Sep. 2022
Currently, it can be seen in the aquatic and reptile center.
—Amy Schwabe, Journal Sentinel, 27 Jan. 2023
Some sampling studies suggest the reptile snacks reduce local snake populations by about 40 percent.
—Bethany Brookshire, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Dec. 2022
There's a terrifying reptile version of a turducken, just in time for Thanksgiving.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 15 Nov. 2022
Future studies of the fossil species may one day reveal why once-diverse reptile groups declined so dramatically with time.
—Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 15 Sep. 2022
That, in turn, will attract birds and small mammals, as well as reptile predators such as snakes and lizards.
—Derek Hawkins, Washington Post, 31 Aug. 2022
Noun
At a local elementary school the reptile took up residence and claimed the area in one parking spot.
—Ahjané Forbes, USA TODAY, 23 Apr. 2024
Authorities believe the reptile that killed the teenager was nearly four yards long.
—Andrea Vacchiano, Fox News, 20 Apr. 2024
The reptile peaked in size about 200 million years ago during the Late Triassic.
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 17 Apr. 2024
The reptiles typically hang out under rocks, logs and woodpiles, according to the National Park Service.
—Jacqueline Pinedo, Sacramento Bee, 16 Apr. 2024
Nearly half of the continent’s birds and roughly 90 percent of its mammals, reptiles and frogs are found nowhere else on the planet.
—Emily Anthes Chang W. Lee, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2024
These reptiles fascinate children (and adults) who love adventure, science, and fearsome creatures.
—Ashley Ziegler, Parents, 13 Apr. 2024
Gator Living Outside Coca-Cola Factory Moved and Put on Diet
The wild reptile, measuring 7 feet and 11 inches, busted its way into Hollenback's home through the front screen door and was now on its way to the kitchen.
—Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 9 Apr. 2024
Meet some of the park’s reptiles and amphibians as the eat their favorite foods.
—Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 28 Mar. 2024
Adjective
For him, a flashy reptile leather jacket was worn with a mesh top and jeans, but there was also a dark blue double-breasted suit for more formal business occasions.
—Colleen Barry, Fortune, 25 Sep. 2022
Currently, it can be seen in the aquatic and reptile center.
—Amy Schwabe, Journal Sentinel, 27 Jan. 2023
Some sampling studies suggest the reptile snacks reduce local snake populations by about 40 percent.
—Bethany Brookshire, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Dec. 2022
There's a terrifying reptile version of a turducken, just in time for Thanksgiving.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 15 Nov. 2022
Future studies of the fossil species may one day reveal why once-diverse reptile groups declined so dramatically with time.
—Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 15 Sep. 2022
That, in turn, will attract birds and small mammals, as well as reptile predators such as snakes and lizards.
—Derek Hawkins, Washington Post, 31 Aug. 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'reptile.' 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 reptile
Cite this Entry
“Reptile.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reptile. Accessed 27 Apr. 2024.
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