as in coward
a person without strength of character
the congresswoman is but a reed who bends whichever way the political winds are blowing
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of reed
The recently unearthed woman’s grave goods included an Amazonian snail shell, a fishing net, a wool textile, about 30 sweet potatoes, weaving tools and a needle, four reed baskets and a toucan’s beak adorned with green and brown beads.
—
Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Apr. 2025
The festival kicks off April 17 at Berkeley’s Hillside Club with a free concert featuring public school students from Oakland, Berkeley and Piedmont who study choro with reed player Zack Pitt-Smith (a founding member of another excellent East Bay Brazilian music combo, Grupo Falso Baiano).
—Andrew Gilbert, Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2025
To get started on your saxophone journey, the Glory Gold alto saxophone set has a saxophone, reeds, mouthpiece cushions and cleaning tools.
—Christopher Murray, Fox News, 3 Mar. 2025
The insect was observed coating the stems of entire patches of reeds.
—Bywarren Cornwall, science.org, 9 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reed
Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Apr. 2025
The festival kicks off April 17 at Berkeley’s Hillside Club with a free concert featuring public school students from Oakland, Berkeley and Piedmont who study choro with reed player Zack Pitt-Smith (a founding member of another excellent East Bay Brazilian music combo, Grupo Falso Baiano).
—Andrew Gilbert, Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2025
To get started on your saxophone journey, the Glory Gold alto saxophone set has a saxophone, reeds, mouthpiece cushions and cleaning tools.
—Christopher Murray, Fox News, 3 Mar. 2025
The insect was observed coating the stems of entire patches of reeds.
—Bywarren Cornwall, science.org, 9 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reed
Noun
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With rising apprehension, the Cabinet kept deliberating for a couple of days while Sumner did his best to shut down jingoistic rhetoric in the Senate from politicians who demanded that Lincoln not be a coward in the face of Great Britain.—
Zaakir Tameez
June 11,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2025
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Because these cowards fear being doxed for their inhumane and unconscionable actions.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
10 June 2025
Noun
-
Watch huge jellyfish make appearance on Maine beach Jellyfish warnings issued Several coastal communities in Maine issued a jellyfish warning as there has been an increase in sightings of lion’s mane and moon jellyfish, according to local station Fox 23 Maine.—
Julia Gomez,
USA Today,
27 June 2025
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In addition, lifeguards often have access to real-time information about water quality, tides, jellyfish blooms and other hazards that the average beachgoer wouldn’t otherwise be aware of.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2025
Noun
-
Of course, seasonal wreaths, doormats, outdoor lighting, and a fresh coat of paint on the front door are great places to start — but no outdoor space is complete without plants.—
Maggie Horton,
People.com,
2 July 2025
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In the end, what started as a petty doormat rivalry has turned into something much more joyful.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 June 2025
Noun
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To find out whether bacteria would still collect PFAS chemicals inside a larger organism, the team used mice raised to lack a microbiome of their own and colonized the animals’ gut with several human microbiome bacteria that were shown to absorb PFAS.—
Nora Bradford,
Scientific American,
4 July 2025
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An inspector followed up on the complaint and found mice droppings in aisles 14-17, product that was chewed through and a live mouse, Turner said.—
Killian Baarlaer,
The Courier-Journal,
2 July 2025
Noun
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Gone is the usual array of synthetic materials, replaced with more natural alternatives like a flax-composite shell, corn furniture and sheep's wool upholstery.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
12 July 2025
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Some of the fields clearly show the benefit of the sheep’s rotational grazing and fertilizing.—
Helen Whybrow
July 7,
Literary Hub,
7 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Reed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reed. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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