as in to protrude
to extend outward beyond a usual point
houses in the town commonly have second stories that beetle over the ground floors, and the overhang is known as a "bump"
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 beetle
Sarah Henry, AZCentral.com, 28 Mar. 2026
Jonathan Carver, suggest the name may also refer to beetle larvae emerging from thawing tree bark.
—Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 29 Jan. 2026
The Conversation, Fortune, 14 May 2026
The Quercus alba that is the tree of Orpheus (this for a production of Monteverdi’s Orfeo), but also English oak trees in Johannesburg—all of which are dying because of an infestation of shot-borer beetle.
—Literary Hub, 12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for beetle
Verb
Persistent drought has led to beetle infestations in the state’s ponderosa and piñon pine forests.
—Sarah Henry, AZCentral.com, 28 Mar. 2026
Jonathan Carver, suggest the name may also refer to beetle larvae emerging from thawing tree bark.
—Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 29 Jan. 2026
Noun
If each female cucumber beetle – assuming half are female – had 110 rootworm larvae, the typical brown bat colony would prevent the production of 33 million rootworms.
—The Conversation, Fortune, 14 May 2026
The Quercus alba that is the tree of Orpheus (this for a production of Monteverdi’s Orfeo), but also English oak trees in Johannesburg—all of which are dying because of an infestation of shot-borer beetle.
—Literary Hub, 12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for beetle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beetle
Verb
-
And while certainly shaken up, the driver and passenger (also test dummies in this case) likely could have walked away without being struck by shattered glass or a protruding antler.—
Mack DeGeurin,
Popular Science,
18 June 2026
-
The problem was that many of them protruded from the front of vehicles like miniature medieval weapons.—
Peter Lyon,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
Noun
-
Police recovered a hammer, box of nails, lighter, cigarette butt, and kerosene bottle cap near the tree and cross after the fire was put out.—
Jermont Terry,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
-
Gane finished off Pereira in the second round to win the title on Sunday after sending him stumbling with a right jab followed by a hammer fist.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
Cloudy and rainy conditions prevail throughout the morning, then in the afternoon the sun pokes through with calm winds.—
Kendrick Calfee
June 16,
Kansas City Star,
16 June 2026
-
Cover the jar with plastic wrap and poke a few holes in the top.—
Meghan Overdeep,
Southern Living,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
Slice each fillet into 3 thinner cutlets, then pound a bit thinner with kitchen mallet.—
Judy Bart Kancigor,
Oc Register,
28 May 2026
-
Zendaya’s character has had a rough season, recently narrowly avoiding having her head clubbed off with a polo mallet.—
Daniel D'Addario,
Variety,
25 May 2026
Verb
-
Tiny bulging eyes form long before the animal resembles a shark at all and its future face exists only as clusters of migrating cells, slowly organizing themselves into the structures that will eventually become jaws, cartilage and sensory organs.—
Melissa Cristina Márquez,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
-
The 20-yard screamer deflected off keeper Luca Zidane’s fingertips and bulged the back of the net.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
17 June 2026
Noun
-
Rick Valente, a patient who visits a third-floor doctor's office several times a month, said he has been forced to climb the stairs despite relying on a cane for stability.—
Bri Buckley,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
-
As for your cane, there’s a place for that at the door.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
17 June 2026
Noun
-
In the 12th, a combo of sledgehammer rights sent Louis to the canvas for good, his first time being knocked out.—
Vann R. Newkirk II,
The Atlantic,
19 June 2026
-
Video taken at the scene appeared to show bystanders racing over to the crash to help, including two people who used a sledgehammer and a shovel to break into the cockpit.—
Sam Gillette,
PEOPLE,
18 June 2026
Noun
-
Despite losing winger Francesca Granzotto to the sin-bin for a tip tackle, Italy secured victory when the pack walked a maul 15 meters and laid on a try for player-of-the-match flyhalf Veronica Madia with 11 minutes left.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 May 2026
-
While many college corners lean on lax officiating to grab and maul, Johnson stays disciplined.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Beetle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beetle. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
