reed

noun

ˈrēd How to pronounce reed (audio)
Definition of reednext
as in coward
a person without strength of character the congresswoman is but a reed who bends whichever way the political winds are blowing

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 reed Years of restoration work has helped create wet grassland, open pools and reed beds that provide ideal foraging and nesting conditions. — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 29 July 2026 Across the street, the Llano River splashes its way over limestone formations and into reed thickets. — Pam Leblanc, Southern Living, 20 July 2026 Just water, the tips of reeds, a floating mat of palmetto thatching that might have been someone’s roof. — Literary Hub, 16 July 2026 In the absence of any significant demonstration of integrity or independence, this is a slender reed on which to rest a distinction. — Quinta Jurecic, The Atlantic, 16 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for reed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reed
  1. coward
  2. jellyfish
  3. doormat
  4. mouse
  5. sheep
Noun
  • To me, the most notable change — outside of Robert not getting fully naked, you cowards — is that the meltdown is witnessed by much more of the senior class.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The mythmaking rebellion of Tekena, first of her name, for the sake of a coward’s love was as recognizable to her descendants as their need to cross borders, both ethnic and geographic, in search of a happiness that wasn’t promised.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of coward
Noun
  • Imagine a 350-foot-tall orb that can be transformed into virtually anything, from a harvest moon rising over the Strip to a giant snow globe to a tank of undulating jellyfish.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Insects belong to the kingdom Animalia, along with mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, octopuses, snails, jellyfish, worms, and many other groups.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of jellyfish
Noun
  • The Indiana Hoosiers have been a recruiting doormat for the entire existence of industry rankings and recruiting services.
    — Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Alexandra Iordanou, the founder of Alex Jordyn Interiors, cautions against using too-small doormats or runners.
    — Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 19 July 2026
Definition of doormat
Noun
  • For 30 minutes, the hunter watched the whitetails play a cat-and-mouse game as the buck tried to stay close to the unromantic does.
    — Jeff Murray, Outdoor Life, 20 Aug. 2026
  • By turning natural language requests into Launcher actions, advanced keyboard and mouse customization becomes easier using the flexibility of the underlying QMK platform.
    — Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of mouse
Noun
  • Gajdusek had come to the idea of injecting animals after a veterinary pathologist noticed that the brains of kuru patients resembled those of sheep with scrapie, a fatal neurological disease transmitted through exposure to infected tissues.
    — Rachel Aviv, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Feta is a fresh, semi-hard cheese traditionally made from sheep’s milk or a mix of sheep and goat milk.
    — Alessandra Signorelli, Vogue, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of sheep

Browse Nearby Words

reechos
reed
reedified
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Cite this Entry

“Reed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reed. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on reed

Nglish: Translation of reed for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about reed

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