Synonyms for
Tortoise
Definition
a slow-moving land reptile with a bony shell and short legs.
Synonyms & similar words
Synonyms by register
Antonyms
Common collocations
- slow tortoise
- ancient tortoise
- tortoise shell
- tortoise and the hare
- land tortoise
- giant tortoise
- tortoise speed
- tortoise race
Word family
noun tortoise
Usage note
While 'tortoise' specifically refers to a land-dwelling reptile, it is sometimes used informally to refer to any turtle, especially in older literature or when the distinction is not important.
Compare "tortoise" with another word →
Example sentences
- The tortoise moved slowly across the grass.
- She kept a tortoise as a pet.
- The tortoise is known for its hard shell.
- I learned about the tortoise in science class.
- The tortoise won the race against the hare.
Quotes
Slow and steady wins the race. - Aesop
A tortoise doesn't run a race. He plods along slowly and steadily, and somehow he always gets there! - Tomie dePaola
The difference between a turtle and a tortoise is that the turtle lives in the water, while the tortoise lives on land. - W. Somerset Maugham