theropod
noun
the·ro·pod
ˈthir-ə-ˌpäd 
plural theropods
: any of a suborder (Theropoda) of carnivorous, bipedal, saurischian dinosaurs (such as a tyrannosaur or velociraptor) having hollow, thin-walled bones and usually small forelimbs
Note: Birds are descended from one lineage of small theropods.
Examples of theropod in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
French biologists unearthed two teeth in the 1920s and originally assigned them to Megalosaurus, a large theropod from the Jurassic period.
—
Sean Mowbray, Discover Magazine, 18 June 2024
Early sauropods, ornithischians, and theropods all tended to stay in these regions.
—Elizabeth Rayne, Ars Technica, 28 May 2024
But starting in the 1990s, a series of bombshell fossil finds established that feathers were widespread among several lineages of the bipedal, carnivorous dinosaurs known as theropods and that birds had inherited these structures from their theropod ancestors.
—Michael B. Habib, Scientific American, 16 Apr. 2024
Creatures like abelisaurids, among the larger theropods in this part of South America, may have preyed on Armadillosuchus.
—Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 29 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for theropod 
Sean Mowbray, Discover Magazine, 18 June 2024
Early sauropods, ornithischians, and theropods all tended to stay in these regions.
—Elizabeth Rayne, Ars Technica, 28 May 2024
But starting in the 1990s, a series of bombshell fossil finds established that feathers were widespread among several lineages of the bipedal, carnivorous dinosaurs known as theropods and that birds had inherited these structures from their theropod ancestors.
—Michael B. Habib, Scientific American, 16 Apr. 2024
Creatures like abelisaurids, among the larger theropods in this part of South America, may have preyed on Armadillosuchus.
—Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 29 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for theropod
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'theropod.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near theropod
Cite this Entry
“Theropod.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/theropod. Accessed 4 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share