Academic Dictionary
Home / Thesaurus / Heron
Find the word that fits

Heron: alternatives and connections

Begin with the reviewed alternatives, then explore broader connections without treating every related word as an automatic substitute.

Try an example: important law show help change happy
26,102 words currently have published synonym-style alternatives
90,593 searchable synonym connections
350,924 published thesaurus relationships of every type
Start with the meaning

Heron

Any wading bird of the genus Ardea and allied genera, of the family Ardeidae. The herons have a long, sharp bill, and long legs and toes, with the claw of the middle toe toothed. The common European heron (Ardea cinerea) is remarkable for its directly ascending flight, and was formerly hunted with the larger falcons.

View the full dictionary entry Compare this word with another →
43 useful connections shown 5 reviewed relationships and 38 broader connections.
Best place to begin

Reviewed alternatives and contrasts

These links were deliberately created. Use the interchangeability score and guidance to judge whether a word will work in your sentence.

Narrower term 4

Bittern 76% connected

A wading bird of the genus Botaurus, allied to the herons, of various species.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related term as a narrower or more specific lexical category.

Definition Compare both words
Boatbill 76% connected

A wading bird (Cancroma cochlearia) of the tropical parts of South America. Its bill is somewhat like a boat with the keel uppermost.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related term as a narrower or more specific lexical category.

Definition Compare both words
Broadbill 76% connected

A wild duck (Aythya, / Fuligula, marila), which appears in large numbers on the eastern coast of the United States, in autumn; -- called also bluebil…

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related term as a narrower or more specific lexical category.

Definition Compare both words
Egret 76% connected

The name of several species of herons which bear plumes on the back. They are generally white. Among the best known species are the American egret (A…

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related term as a narrower or more specific lexical category.

Definition Compare both words

Broader term 1

Wader 76% connected

One who, or that which, wades.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related term as a broader lexical category for at least one sense.

Definition Compare both words
Explore further

Words connected by meaning

Their definitions overlap or refer to similar ideas. Use these to widen your search, then compare the exact meanings.

Anhinga noun · 78% connection

fish-eating bird of warm inland waters having a long flexible neck and slender sharp-pointed bill

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: wading, bird, genus, ardea, allied.
Definition Compare
Bill noun · 78% connection

Any paper, containing a statement of particulars; as, a bill of charges or expenditures; a weekly bill of mortality; a bill of fare, e…

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: wading, bird, genus, ardea, allied.
Definition Compare
Bullfinch noun · 78% connection

A bird of the genus Pyrrhula and other related genera, especially the P. vulgaris / rubicilla, a bird of Europe allied to the grosbeak…

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: wading, bird, genus, ardea, allied.
Definition Compare
Cassowary noun · 78% connection

A large bird, of the genus Casuarius, found in the east Indies. It is smaller and stouter than the ostrich. Its head is armed with a k…

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: wading, bird, genus, ardea, allied.
Definition Compare
Chough noun · 78% connection

A bird of the Crow family (Fregilus graculus) of Europe. It is of a black color, with a long, slender, curved bill and red legs; -- al…

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: wading, bird, genus, ardea, allied.
Definition Compare
Crabeater noun · 78% connection

A small European heron (Ardea minuta, and other allied species).

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: wading, bird, genus, ardea, allied.
Definition Compare
Crane noun · 78% connection

A wading bird of the genus Grus, and allied genera, of various species, having a long, straight bill, and long legs and neck.

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: wading, bird, genus, ardea, allied.
Definition Compare
Curlew noun · 78% connection

A wading bird of the genus Numenius, remarkable for its long, slender, curved bill.

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: wading, bird, genus, ardea, allied.
Definition Compare
Darter noun · 78% connection

fish-eating bird of warm inland waters having a long flexible neck and slender sharp-pointed bill

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: wading, bird, genus, ardea, allied.
Definition Compare
Desmognathous adjective · 78% connection

Having the maxillo-palatine bones united; -- applied to a group of carinate birds (Desmognathae), including various wading and swimmin…

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: wading, bird, genus, ardea, allied.
Definition Compare
Flamingo noun · 78% connection

large pink to scarlet web-footed wading bird with down-bent bill; inhabits brackish lakes

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: wading, bird, genus, ardea, allied.
Definition Compare
Gallinule noun · 78% connection

One of several wading birds, having long, webless toes, and a frontal shield, belonging to the family Rallidae. They are remarkable fo…

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: wading, bird, genus, ardea, allied.
Definition Compare
Godwit noun · 78% connection

large wading bird that resembles a curlew; has a long slightly upturned bill

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: wading, bird, genus, ardea, allied.
Definition Compare
Herodiones n. pl. · 78% connection

A division of wading birds, including the herons, storks, and allied forms. Called also Herodii.

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: wading, bird, genus, ardea, allied.
Definition Compare
Ibis noun · 78% connection

Any bird of the genus Ibis and several allied genera, of the family Ibidae, inhabiting both the Old World and the New. Numerous specie…

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: wading, bird, genus, ardea, allied.
Definition Compare
Ignoramus noun · 78% connection

We are ignorant; we ignore; -- being the word formerly written on a bill of indictment by a grand jury when there was not sufficient e…

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: wading, bird, genus, ardea, allied.
Definition Compare
Jabiru noun · 78% connection

One of several large wading birds of the genera Mycteria and Xenorhynchus, allied to the storks in form and habits.

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: wading, bird, genus, ardea, allied.
Definition Compare
Jacamar noun · 78% connection

tropical American insectivorous bird having a long sharp bill and iridescent green or bronze plumage

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: wading, bird, genus, ardea, allied.
Definition Compare
All dictionary tools

Explore Academic Dictionary

The same nine destinations available from the header menu are shown here as a clear, fully visible grid.

Dictionary Definitions and meanings Thesaurus Synonyms with nuance Academic writing Evidence and analysis Professional Workplace vocabulary Word origins Etymology and roots Subjects Specialist dictionaries Word clusters Connected vocabulary Word similarity Compare two words Crossword Play with vocabulary