plural hornets
: any of the larger vespid wasps (genus Vespa) that usually build large papery nests in shrubs and trees see also european hornet, northern giant hornet, yellow-legged hornet compare bald-faced hornet
Examples of hornet in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Another common wasp in the South is the European hornet.
—
Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 13 Oct. 2025
The winner heads into another hornet’s nest against the Toronto Blue Jays in an AL Division Series on Saturday.
—Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 30 Sep. 2025
Every centimeter of the tape is teeming with movement, a sensory overload of molten shrapnel that writhes like a hornet’s nest.
—Pitchfork, 30 Sep. 2025
Don't miss these Wauwatosa's new troll sculpture has become a new home for a bold group of hornets.
—Steven Martinez, jsonline.com, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hornet
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.
Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 13 Oct. 2025
The winner heads into another hornet’s nest against the Toronto Blue Jays in an AL Division Series on Saturday.
—Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 30 Sep. 2025
Every centimeter of the tape is teeming with movement, a sensory overload of molten shrapnel that writhes like a hornet’s nest.
—Pitchfork, 30 Sep. 2025
Don't miss these Wauwatosa's new troll sculpture has become a new home for a bold group of hornets.
—Steven Martinez, jsonline.com, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hornet
Cite this Entry
“Hornet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hornet. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hornet
noun
hor·net
ˈhȯr-nət 
: any of the larger wasps that live in colonies
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share