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Antonyms for gorilla


Grammar : Noun
Spell : guh-ril-uh
Phonetic Transcription : gəˈrɪl ə



Definition of gorilla

Origin :
  • 1847, applied to the apes (Troglodytes gorills) by U.S. missionary Thomas Savage, from Greek gorillai, plural of name given to wild, hairy people in a Greek translation of Carthaginian navigator Hanno's account of his voyage along the N.W. coast of Africa, c.500 B.C.E. Allegedly an African word.
  • In its inmost recess was an island similar to that formerly described, which contained in like manner a lake with another island, inhabited by a rude description of people. The females were much more numerous than the males, and had rough skins: our interpreters called them Gorillae. We pursued but could take none of the males; they all escaped to the top of precipices, which they mounted with ease, and threw down stones; we took three of the females, but they made such violent struggles, biting and tearing their captors, that we killed them, and stripped off the skins, which we carried to Carthage: being out of provisions we could go no further. [Hanno, "Periplus"]
  • Of persons perceived as being gorilla-like, from 1884.
  • As in monkey : noun primate
  • As in athlete : noun person involved in sports
  • As in thug : noun hoodlum
  • As in primate : noun order of mammals
  • As in anthropoid : noun ape
  • As in hoodlum : noun crook
  • As in primate : noun anthropoid
  • As in simian : noun ape
  • As in goon : noun ruffian
Example sentences :
  • Mouthing his rage, the gorilla flung the earth man to the ground.
  • Extract from : « Astounding Stories of Super-Science, October, 1930 » by Various
  • "Don't waste no time on that cast-iron mug of his," says Gorilla.
  • Extract from : « Shorty McCabe » by Sewell Ford
  • His arms and chest were built on the same general plan as those of a gorilla.
  • Extract from : « Islands of Space » by John W Campbell
  • They're a lot more like a man than a man is like, for instance, a gorilla.
  • Extract from : « The Colors of Space » by Marion Zimmer Bradley
  • Chipmunk with the strength of a gorilla and the courage of a lion.
  • Extract from : « The Rough Road » by William John Locke
  • But all you ladies are mono-maniacs; one might as well talk sense to a gorilla.
  • Extract from : « A Simpleton » by Charles Reade
  • The gorilla is of migratory habits at some seasons of the year.
  • Extract from : « Journeys Through Bookland, Vol. 7 » by Charles H. Sylvester
  • Its mouth was wider, and the nose less prominent than that of the gorilla.
  • Extract from : « In the Wilds of Africa » by W.H.G. Kingston
  • We had no wish, either, to remain longer than necessary in the gorilla region.
  • Extract from : « In the Wilds of Africa » by W.H.G. Kingston
  • Perhaps he took me for a gorilla, which the lion is said to hold in wholesome fear.
  • Extract from : « In the Wilds of Africa » by W.H.G. Kingston

Synonyms for gorilla

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019