hyena

[US]/haɪ'iːnə/
[UK]/haɪ'inə/
Frequency: Very High

Translation

n. a cruel carnivorous animal, living in Africa and Asia, usually hunting in groups for prey.

Example Sentences

hyenas devouring their prey;

African hyena noted for its distinctive howl.

The savanna is also the home of meat-eaters—the lion, leopard, and hyena who feed on the grasseaters.

The hyena let out a chilling laugh in the dark.

Hyenas are known for their scavenging habits.

The hyena's fierce reputation precedes it.

A group of hyenas is called a clan.

The hyena's cackle echoed through the night.

Hyenas have a powerful jaw capable of crushing bones.

The hyena's distinctive whooping call can be heard from far away.

Hyenas are highly intelligent and social animals.

The hyena's striped coat provides excellent camouflage in the savannah.

Hyenas play a crucial role in maintaining the ecosystem by scavenging carrion.

Real-world Examples

It's a kill not unlike today's hyenas, one of the Serengeti's most effective predators.

Source: Discovery Channel: Battle of the Dinosaurs

That's not a dog. It's a hyena escaped from the zoo dressed in dog clothing.

Source: Grey's Anatomy Season 2

The hyenas laughed and moved a little closer.

Source: Magic Tree House

Her main problem is with hyenas.

Source: VOA Special English: World

They were not so much the dogs of war as the coyotes, dingoes and hyenas.

Source: The Economist - Comprehensive

We see it today in animals like lions and hyenas.

Source: Jurassic Fight Club

The hyena has a reputation for being a thief and a coward.

Source: Magic Tree House

Instead of the hyenas we had expected, we saw an old lion.

Source: American Elementary School English 5

On the African plains, the hyena (hi-EE-nuh) is the ruling predator after the lion.

Source: Magic Tree House

Others, however, such as giant ground sloths, giant hyenas, and mammoths went extinct.

Source: TED-Ed (video version)

Popular Words

Explore frequently searched vocabulary

Download App to Unlock Full Content

Want to learn vocabulary more efficiently? Download the DictoGo app and enjoy more vocabulary memorization and review features!

Download DictoGo Now