Thesaurus results for FOOD CHAIN

food chain

noun

Definition of food chain

as in hierarchy

a series of types of living things in which each one uses the next lower member of the series as a source of food Sharks eat fish that are lower in the food chain. animals that are at the top of the food chain

Related Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for food chain

Noun

Most major mergers are consummated after executives have dedicated months to quietly drafting detailed operational plans and organizational hierarchies.

— Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
Whatever the old hierarchy promised, Cheval Blanc Courchevel intended to outdo it.

— Robb Report, Robb Report, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of hierarchy

Noun

In separate local elections, various independent candidates and groupings appeared to be winning most seats nationwide, a traditional result.

— ABC News, ABC News, 11 Oct. 2026
Meanwhile, of the 105 political parties and groupings qualified to participate, only 33 had successfully submitted their membership lists.

— Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of grouping

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

food

food chain

food chains

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Food chain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/food%20chain. Accessed 13 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of food chain

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on food chain

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

abscond

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Why do we call it a 'flea market'?

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes