species

noun

ˈspē-(ˌ)shēz How to pronounce species (audio)
Definition of speciesnext
1
as in type
one of the units into which a whole is divided on the basis of a common characteristic a music that is now generally regarded as a distinct species of rap

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in kind
a number of persons or things that are grouped together because they have something in common in the late 1960s there emerged a new species of actor: edgy and not conventionally handsome

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in world
human beings in general the future of the species may well depend on our willingness to limit the impact of an ever-increasing population

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

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 species Here and there in the deep shade under the beeches is a species of orchid called violet helleborine (Epipactis purpurata). — Literary Hub, 20 Aug. 2026 Green sea turtles were only removed from the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s endangered species list last year. — Sophie Neiman, Christian Science Monitor, 17 Aug. 2026 Hammerhead sharks typically prefer warmer waters than those found in Southern California, and the last sighting near the coast was over a decade ago, according to the iNaturalist species-sighting database. — Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2026 Rinaldi's team have nicknamed it the Saguaro, after a species of cactus native to the Sonoran desert in the United States' south-west, thanks to the galaxy's arms and how its core resembles the red fruit produced by the cactus. — Keith Cooper, Space.com, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for species
Recent Examples of Synonyms for species
  1. kind
  2. breed
  3. world
  4. category
  5. stripe
  6. humanity
  7. genus
  8. genre
Noun
  • John Ratcliffe’s surprise talks with Russian officials were the first of their kind since his predecessor visited in late 2021, also to deliver a warning — to not attack Ukraine.
    — Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The United States and India finalized a consequential trade deal in February, the first of its kind between the two countries, which promises to increase bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030.
    — C. Raja Mohan, Foreign Affairs, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of kind
Noun
  • But in Zelensky’s office on Tuesday, an American sports hero was handing him an American dog breed.
    — Laurie Kellman, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Just in time for National Dog Day, Rover analyzed millions of dog breeds submitted by pet owners nationwide to find both popular breeds and fastest-rising favorites.
    — Liz Gray, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of breed
Noun
  • With new digital imaging techniques, astronomers were able to spot a new and tiny world orbiting 4 billion miles beyond Neptune.
    — Tariq Malik, Space.com, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Once these new worlds are spotted by Roman, the more powerful and sensitive Webb will take aim to fill in the blanks.
    — Marcia Dunn, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of world
Noun
  • Thailand has yet to secure an Oscar nomination in the international feature category.
    — Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The screenplay placed second in the horror category at the 2025 Slamdance Screenplay Competition, winning Filmmatic’s Horror/Thriller Screenplay Awards, and selected for the 2026 Grey List.
    — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of category
Noun
  • For years, Cole was mystified by a small, beanlike object with stripes which lurked in the background of certain drawings.
    — Laura Preston, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026
  • The 2000s look typically paired these bright palettes with bold prints like polka dots, stripes, and paisleys.
    — Kristina McGuirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of stripe
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
  • These spacecraft — which are named after a widespread genus of owl — use synthetic aperture radar (SAR) to study our planet both day and night, and in all weather conditions.
    — Mike Wall, Space.com, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The early-season flowering bulb, which is a genus in the Iridaceae (iris) family, is known for its ability to bloom in late winter and early spring.
    — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of genus
Noun
  • The project uses horror and darkly comic genre elements to approach the psychological pressures of motherhood, extending Urban’s interest in personal experience as a route into broader social and political terrain.
    — Davide Abbatescianni, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The [same goes for] Prisoner and Sweetpea, which does this in a very genre way.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of genre

Browse Nearby Words

specie
species
specific
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Cite this Entry

“Species.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/species. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on species

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about species

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