gharial

noun

gha·​ri·​al ˈger-ē-əl How to pronounce gharial (audio)
: a large long-snouted crocodilian (Gavialis gangeticus of the family Gavialidae) of India

Examples of gharial in a Sentence

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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.
Burke, who was reconstructing fossil gharials for his doctoral project, noted the subtle differences between the unidentified species and the false gharial, and started to work on an up-to-date description in December 2023. — Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2026 Visitors can see the juvenile gharials hatched in previous years in their indoor habitat at the Fort Worth Zoo’s Museum of Living Art. — Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Sep. 2026 Today’s crocodiles, alligators and gharials represent just a small surviving branch of a once-vast lineage. — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 23 Feb. 2026 Today’s crocodiles, alligators and gharials are the last survivors of a much more varied lineage. — New Atlas, 27 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for gharial

Word History

Etymology

Hindi & Urdu ghaṛyāl, ghaṛiyāl, ultimately from Sanskrit ghaṇṭika crocodilian

First Known Use

circa 1809, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gharial was circa 1809

Rhymes for gharial

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Browse Nearby Words

Ghardaïa
gharial
gharry
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Cite this Entry

“Gharial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gharial. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on gharial

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about gharial

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