Sphinx1. (n.) In Egyptian art, an image of granite or porphyry, having a human head, or the head of a ram or of a hawk, upon the wingless body of a lion.
2. (n.) On Greek art and mythology, a she-monster, usually represented as having the winged body of a lion, and the face and breast of a young woman.
3. (n.) Hence: A person of enigmatical character and purposes, especially in politics and diplomacy.
4. (n.) Any one of numerous species of large moths of the family Sphingidae; -- called also hawk moth.
5. (n.) The Guinea, or sphinx, baboon (Cynocephalus sphinx).
Thesaurus Entries
Argus, Briareus, Cerberus, Charybdis, Cyclops, Echidna, Gila monster, Gorgon, Harpy, Hydra, Loch Ness monster, Mafioso, Medusa, Minotaur, Pegasus, Python, Scylla, Sphinx, Talos, Tartar, Typhon, Young Turk, agama, alligator, anole, bear, bearded lizard, beast, beldam, berserk, berserker, blindworm, bomber, box turtle, brute, butterfly agama, cayman, centaur, chameleon, chimera, cockatrice, crank, crocodile, crosspatch, demon, devil, diamondback, drake, false map turtle, feist, fiend, fire-eater, firebrand, flying dragon, fury, gavial, gecko, girdle-tailed lizard, glass snake, goon, gorilla, green turtle, griffin, grizzly bear, grouch, gunsel, hardnose, hawksbill, hawksbill turtle, hell-raiser, hellcat, hellhound, hellion, hippocampus, holy terror, hood, hoodlum, hothead, hotspur, iguana, incendiary, killer, leatherback, lizard, mad dog, madcap, matamata, mermaid, merman, monitor, monster, mugger, nixie, ogre, ogress, rapist, revolutionary, roc, salamander, satyr, savage, sea horse, sea serpent, sea turtle, she-wolf, siren, soft-shelled turtle, sorehead, spitfire, stump tail, teju, termagant, terrapin, terror, terrorist, tiger, tigress, tortoise, tough, tough guy, troll, tuatara, turtle, ugly customer, unicorn, vampire, violent, virago, vixen, werewolf, wild beast, windigo, witch, wolf, xiphopagus, zombie