cannibal

nounbeast, beastlike human

Synonyms for cannibal

noun beast, beastlike human

Antonyms for cannibal

humanitarian

Word Origin & History

"human that eats human flesh," 1550s, from Spanish canibal, caribal "a savage, cannibal," from Caniba, Christopher Columbus' rendition of the Caribs' name for themselves (see Caribbean). The natives were believed to be anthropophagites. Columbus, seeking evidence that he was in Asia, thought the name meant the natives were subjects of the Great Khan. Shakespeare's Caliban (in "The Tempest") is from a version of this word, with -n- and -l- interchanged, found in Hakluyt's "Voyages" (1599). The Spanish word had reached French by 1515. Used of animals from 1796. An Old English word for "cannibal" was selfæta.

Example Sentences for cannibal

"But how came you to live among these cannibal demons," asked Raiko.

"Or 'Youmale,' the Caribbean cannibal of the lake of the Caimans," continued a third.

It may come from a rival—from the buccaneer, the filibuster, or the cannibal.

"Nay, elder, I am not all out a cannibal and ogre," replied the captain.

The Cosmos as such is cannibal; as old Time ate his children.

If I am to make a meal for a cannibal, I should prefer being cooked.

The King of the Cannibal Islands was to appear on a white charger.

One or other of them must become food for their cannibal comrades!

In this connection it may be observed that the name "Mohawk" means "Cannibal."

Yet we—we have left them to wallow in the mire of their cannibal abominations.

cannibal

Synonyms for cannibal

Antonyms for cannibal

brute

carnivorous

cannibal

Synonyms for cannibal

Antonyms for cannibal

More words related to cannibal

barbarian

brute

carnivorous