Oxyaenidae ("sharp hyenas") is a family of extinct carnivorous placental mammals.

The name of family Oxyaenidae comes from Ancient Greek ὀξύς (oxús) 'sharp', name of hyena genus Hyaena and taxonomic suffix "-idae".

Anatomically, characteristic features include a short, broad skull, deep jaws, and teeth designed for crushing rather than shearing, as in the hyaenodonts or modern cats.

[citation needed] Oxyaenids were specialized carnivores that preyed on other terrestrial vertebrates, eggs and insects.

They were capable of climbing trees, which is suggested by fossil evidence of their paws.