hyena

noun

hy·e·na | \ hī-ˈē-nə

plural hyenas also hyena

Definition of hyena

: any of several large strong nocturnal carnivorous Old World mammals (family Hyaenidae) that usually feed as scavengers

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Did You Know?

There are three species of hyena— doglike carnivores found in Asia and Africa. Actually more closely related to cats than to dogs, hyenas have coarse fur, four toes on each foot, long forelegs, claws that do not retract, and enormously strong jaws and teeth. They live alone or in packs and may be active by night or day. Hyenas are noted for scavenging but will also attack live prey. The spotted, or laughing, hyena, whose calls alternately resemble wailing and maniacal laughter, ranges through much of sub-Saharan Africa. Yellowish or grayish with dark spots, it is about 6½ ft (1.8 m) long, including the 12-in (30-cm) tail, and weighs up to 175 lb (80 kg). The hyena has been known to attack people and even to carry off young children.

Examples of hyena in a Sentence

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One day in February 2016, Bereino dug a burrow to keep his baby goats safe from hyenas. — Michael Price, Science | AAAS, "Stunning ancient skull shakes up human family tree," 28 Aug. 2019 At a certain point Disney, like those ravenous hyenas, will face slim pickings of its own. — Los Angeles Times, "‘The Lion King’ is a huge hit. It might also be Disney’s most dispiriting remake yet," 22 July 2019 Firms that ruled the world of hyenas, notably Intel, are now acquiring designers of cheetahs. — The Economist, "Artificial intelligence is awakening the chip industry’s animal spirits," 7 June 2018 Seven years ago, a box containing 12 human skulls and a hyena skeleton arrived at Henry Scragg’s front door in Essex, England. — Oscar Schwartz, WIRED, "There’s a Thriving Market for Human Body Parts on Instagram," 21 Aug. 2019 Maddox was a feral hyena who desperately missed his siblings, and Leka was in the midst of a nervous breakdown. — Kathryn Miles, Outside Online, "How to Introduce Your New Dog to Your Old Dog," 14 Aug. 2019 There were other spectacular animal sightings: a herd of elephants, a dazzle of zebras, a crash of rhinos, a tower of giraffes, a raft of hippos, a cackle of hyenas, and more. — Pamela Wright, BostonGlobe.com, "Check-In: andBeyond Phinda Homestead reopens in South Africa," 9 July 2019 An evil lion with a deformed eye and hyena henchmen. — Hannah Denham, Washington Post, "‘Lion King’ has been clouded by intellectual property controversy for 25 years. Here’s the story behind it.," 26 July 2019 The tourists found far fewer hyenas than the researchers, but their photos were the only surveying method to identify cheetahs at all. — Eva Frederick, Science | AAAS, "Tourists on safari track leopards and lions just as well as scientists," 22 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hyena.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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More Definitions for hyena

hyena

noun

English Language Learners Definition of hyena

: a large animal of Asia and Africa that eats the flesh of dead animals

See the full definition for hyena in the English Language Learners Dictionary

hyena

noun

hy·e·na | \ hī-ˈē-nə

Kids Definition of hyena

: a large doglike mammal of Asia and Africa that lives on flesh

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hyena

Definition of hyena

Other Words from hyena

Did You Know?

Examples of hyena in a Sentence

First Known Use of hyena

History and Etymology for hyena

English Language Learners Definition of hyena

Kids Definition of hyena

hyena

Definition of hyena

Other Words from hyena

Did You Know?

Examples of hyena in a Sentence

First Known Use of hyena

History and Etymology for hyena

English Language Learners Definition of hyena

Kids Definition of hyena

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