Thesaurus results for HOMO SAPIENS

Homo sapiens

noun

ˌhō-(ˌ)mō-ˈsā-pē-ˌenz

Definition of Homo sapiens

as in mankind

the human race how far into the outer reaches of the universe will Homo sapiens someday be able to go?

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of Homo sapiens As the Neanderthals gradually disappeared around 40,000 years ago—partly due to competition with our own species—Homo sapiens began taking shelter-building in new directions. — Literary Hub, 1 May 2026 Yunxian 2 provides a clearer example of an earlier lineage, suggesting that several major human lineages—Homo sapiens, Neanderthals, and sister species like Homo longi—may have co-existed for hundreds of thousands of years, interacting and potentially interbreeding. — Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 27 Sep. 2025 Homo sapiens are highly socialized animals prone to cooperate when necessary. — Bruce Dorminey, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for Homo sapiens

Noun

Once-acceptable gendered terms, such as mankind and stewardess, have been replaced with alternatives.

— Jo Mackiewicz, The Conversation, 25 Aug. 2026
One of mankind’s most astonishing engineering feats, the canal has served as the connecting point between Pacific and Atlantic travel since 1914.

— DeMarco Williams, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of mankind

Noun

Their generosity, humanity and belief in the importance of fashion as art, culture and history – as well as their understanding of human fragility and the possibility of growth – will remain with me always.

— Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 31 Aug. 2026
Their generosity, humanity and belief in the importance of fashion as art, culture and history, as well as their understanding of human fragility and the possibility of growth, will remain with me always.

— Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of humanity

Noun

For Katwala, the most impressive elements from the Games were the robots playing tennis, seeming to react to the movement of the ball and, in a match featuring robots playing alongside humans in doubles, of their partner, too.

— Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
Drier conditions are here to stay, and so is the reality that big reductions to demand are the main way for humans to adapt to that future.

— Alex Hager, NPR, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of human

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homos

Homo sapiens

hon

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“Homo sapiens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/Homo%20sapiens. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of Homo sapiens

noun

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