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The Classic Omnivore
Human beings seem to be classic omnivores. Originally living as "hunter-gatherers", we hunted and fished when possible but also gathered nuts, berries, fruits, seeds, and roots for much of our diet. We're physically well suited for both tasks; our hands are perfect for picking things, and our build is ideal for running down even the fastest game animals because of our great stamina. Some 10,000 years ago humans began practicing agriculture involving both animals and plants. The other omnivorous mammals include chimpanzees, pigs, opossums, porcupines, bears, raccoons, chipmunks, mice and rats, and skunks. But even many mammals classed as carnivorous turn out to be capable of shifting to plant foods when necessary.
Examples of omnivore in a Sentence
Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 23 May 2024
Thousands of plant and fungi species could serve as potential food sources; despite their carnivorous reputation, the bears are omnivores who largely dine on vegetation.
—Benjamin Cassidy, Scientific American, 14 May 2024
The omnivores, who are skilled scavengers, are known to head to residential communities in search of food, particularly during the spring and summer months.
—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2024
Bear scats vary widely based on what food sources the omnivore is digesting.
—Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 30 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for omnivore 
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'omnivore.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“Omnivore.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/omnivore. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.
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omnivore
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