Definition

1. Adjective:
   • (Of predatory animals) armed with claws or talons: Describes an animal, typically a predator, that possesses claws or talons as natural weapons.
   • Having or resembling a claw or claws; often used as a combining form: Describes something that has claws or a shape similar to a claw. This meaning is frequently used to form compound adjectives.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:
  • The clawed predator silently stalked its prey through the undergrowth.
  • The fossil revealed the imprint of a large, clawed foot.
  • He was scratched by the cat's sharp-clawed paws.

Advanced Usage

• Used as a combining form: The adjective 'clawed' is often combined with another adjective to describe the nature of the claws.
  • The eagle is a sharp-clawed bird of prey.
  • They studied the remains of a long-clawed dinosaur.

Variants and Related Words

• Claw (noun): A sharp, curved nail on the foot of an animal, especially a bird or a mammal.
  • The bear used its powerful claws to dig for roots.
• Claw (verb): To scratch or tear at something with claws or fingernails.
  • The cat will claw the furniture if not given a scratching post.

Synonyms

• Taloned: Having talons (specifically for birds of prey).
• Unguiculate: (Technical/Biological) Having nails or claws.

Related Phrases

• Clawed its way: A phrase using the verb 'claw' to describe moving or progressing with great difficulty or determination, as if using claws.
  • The startup clawed its way to profitability. (Note: This uses the verb 'claw', not the adjective 'clawed').

Related Idioms

• To get one's claws into someone: To gain a harmful or controlling influence over someone.
  • Once the loan shark gets his claws into you, it's hard to break free. (Note: This idiom uses the noun 'claws', not the adjective 'clawed').

Adjective

1. (of predatory animals) armed with claws or talons
2. having or resembling a claw or claws; often used as a combining form
   • sharp-clawed