hyena

/haɪˈiːnə/
noun
  1. A wild animal that looks like a dog and lives in Africa and Asia. Hyenas are known for making a sound like laughing and for eating dead animals.
    • Hyenas are often misunderstood as purely scavengers, but they also hunt in packs.
    • The hyena waited near the lion's kill for its turn to eat.
    • At the zoo, we watched a spotted hyena trot around its enclosure.
  2. A person who is cruel, dishonest, or laughs in a mean way at others' misfortune.
    • Don't be a hyena; show some kindness instead of mocking your friend.
    • The bully acted like a hyena, laughing at the new kid's mistake.
    • Some reporters behave like hyenas, chasing celebrities for a shocking story.
What does "hyena" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean