insect

noun

ˈin-ˌsekt How to pronounce insect (audio)
Definition of insectnext
as in dwarf
a person of no importance or influence the magazine's editor in chief was notorious for treating staffers as insects, often not even bothering to learn their names

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of insect Other microbes recycle nutrients by decomposing dead plants and animals, fix atmospheric nitrogen into forms that plants can use, and form essential partnerships with roots, insects, and other organisms. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 Aug. 2026 Models with extremely strong suction can harm delicate bugs, while those with tiny nozzles will be ineffective against large spiders, palmetto bugs and similarly sized insects. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 11 Aug. 2026 But the situation caused the head coach to reiterate to his team that players should examine their equipment carefully before using it, checking for insects — or maybe something larger and more dangerous. — CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026 Native plants can help round things out, giving birds a place to duck for cover while supporting the insects many species rely on, especially when feeding their young. — Lauren Paige Richeson, USA Today, 10 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for insect
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insect
  1. dwarf
  2. cipher
  3. nobody
  4. lightweight
  5. number
Noun
  • To avoid this, sow dwarf crepe myrtles at least 4 to 6 feet apart, space standard-sized trees at least 8 feet from each other, and keep crepe myrtles of any size at least 3 feet away from fencing.
    — Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Around the dozens of containers that make Toolik the US’s largest research station in the Arctic, musk ox and caribou graze on dwarf birches and fragrant labrador tea, while Arctic ground squirrels pop out of their burrows to survey the tundra.
    — Denise Hruby, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026
Definition of dwarf
Noun
  • But in my view, our relationships to animals, whose lives are untouched by the existential woes and artifices of personhood, are the richest and most evident ciphers for our own often inscrutable psyches.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 June 2026
  • Consider a dashboard that shows applications, including keys and libraries; network traffic protocols and ciphers; hardware, such as HSMs and TPMs; and third-party dependencies, including cryptographic or software bills of materials.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Definition of cipher
Noun
  • Yvonne and Nick’s disastrous wedding dinner is the day the cast went from nobodies to actual practitioners of the reality-television arts and sciences.
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 1 July 2026
  • Despite the tragicomic instability and the rotating cast of nobodies temporarily tasked with running the country, when seen in macroeconomic terms, Peru appears to be doing just fine, thank you.
    — Daniel Alarcón, New Yorker, 4 June 2026
Definition of nobody
Noun
  • These lightweight yet still creamy liquid formulas brighten instead of masking, making dark circles and discoloration appear softer without looking obviously covered.
    — Marci Robin, Allure, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Instead, opt for something lightweight that won’t dig into you, like these G Gradual ankle pants.
    — Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of lightweight
Noun
  • While daytime staffing at its Sharp Mesa Vista behavioral health hospital already meets requirements, overnight shifts have been managed based on the number of patients in beds and on the severity of their illnesses.
    — Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Quansah went with Jurgen Klopp’s squad to a training camp in Germany and then joined the travelling party to Singapore, mainly to make up the numbers in training and for the two friendlies played on the trip.
    — James Pearce, New York Times, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of number

Browse Nearby Words

in secret
insect
insecticide
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Insect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insect. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on insect

Nglish: Translation of insect for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about insect

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