hyena
African carrion eater
A hyena is a carnivorous mammal native to Africa and Asia, known for its sloping back, powerful jaws, and distinctive vocalizations—the spotted hyena's call sounds like laughter, giving rise to laughing hyena.
Hyenas are scavengers and hunters, often traveling in packs.
Figuratively, a hyena is someone who profits from others' misfortune or laughs cruelly.
Harsh, shrill laugh
- giggleSoft, silly vocalization
- whoopLoud exclamation of excitement
- callContact by phone
- vocalizationProducing sounds with voice
eerie · haunting · night sounds · communication · chorus · howl · yip · chatter
Putrefying animal remains
- carcassSlaughtered animal's body
- vultureCarrion-eating raptor
- jackalWild African dog
- opportunistOne exploiting circumstances
forage · remains · leftovers · cleanup · marabou · buzzard · ecosystem · decomposer
Female family leader
- matrilinealDescended through maternal line
- packGroup or compress
- hierarchyRanked authority structure
- dominanceSuperior influence over others
cubs · denning · territory · cooperation · bonding · kinship · social · alliance
Wicked story antagonist
- Lion KingFeline sovereign title
- stereotypeFixed oversimplified notion
- malignedFalsely disparaged
- scapegoatUnfairly blamed person
vilified · misjudged · folklore · mythology · cowardly · cunning · trickster · Anubis
Organism that consumes others
- preyAnimal being hunted
- nocturnalActive during darkness
- stalkingStealthy, persistent pursuit
- ambushSurprise strike from concealment
pursuit · chase · pack hunting · wildebeest · zebra · savanna · Serengeti · grassland
Seen or patterned
Able to adjust readily
- survivorOne still alive after
- hardyAble to endure difficulty
- tenaciousStubbornly determined to continue
- opportunistOne exploiting circumstances
versatile · thriving · robust · endurance · perseverance · resourceful
cackle
Harsh, shrill laugh
vocalization · eerie · haunting · night sounds · communication · chorus · howl · yip · chatter
carrion
Putrefying animal remains
opportunist · forage · remains · leftovers · cleanup · marabou · buzzard · ecosystem · decomposer · circle of life
matriarch
Female family leader
- matrilinealDescended through maternal line
- packGroup or compress
- hierarchyRanked authority structure
dominance · cubs · denning · territory · cooperation · bonding · kinship · social · alliance · coalition
villain
Wicked story antagonist
- Lion KingFeline sovereign title
- stereotypeFixed oversimplified notion
- malignedFalsely disparaged
scapegoat · vilified · misjudged · folklore · mythology · cowardly · cunning · trickster · Anubis · African folklore
predator
Organism that consumes others
ambush · pursuit · chase · pack hunting · wildebeest · zebra · savanna · Serengeti · grassland · African plains
spotted
Seen or patterned
adaptable
Able to adjust readily
- survivorOne still alive after
- hardyAble to endure difficulty
- tenaciousStubbornly determined to continue
opportunist · versatile · thriving · robust · endurance · perseverance · resourceful
- AfricaEgypt, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania
- mammalsbears, bats, sheep, cats, anteater
- African Safarielephant, elephants, lions, zebras, zebra
- African wildlifeelephant, African elephant, lion, hippo, elephants
- carnivoresmeat-eating, apex predator, wolf, tiger, hypercarnivore
- desert lifecamel, cactus, scorpion, rattlesnake, sidewinder
- laugh like a hyenaProduce wild, uncontrollable cackles
- laughing hyenaCarnivore with humanlike vocalizations
- spotted hyenasMottled African pack predators