loose·strife
| \ ˈlü(s)-ˌstrīf
\
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Definition of loosestrife
1
: any of a genus (Lysimachia) of plants of the primrose family with leafy stems and usually yellow or white flowers
2
: any of a genus (Lythrum, family Lythraceae, the loosestrife family) of herbs having entire leaves and including some with showy spikes of purple flowers
especially
: purple loosestrife
Examples of loosestrife in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Purple loosestrife is quickly recognizable, thanks to its upright purple flower spikes that bloom from midsummer through fall.
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Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, "6 Pretty but Troublesome Perennials Never to Plant in Your Garden," 25 Aug. 2020
To combat the problem, beetles that dined on loosestrife were introduced.
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Connie Bruck, The New Yorker, "The Mail," 14 Mar. 2018
Garden Invasives: Eurasian bush honeysuckle, Japanese knotweed, Japanese barberry, burning bush, haveart bishop’s goutweed and purple loosestrife.
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Joanne Kempinger Demski, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Invasive plants to watch out for," 20 Aug. 2017
Visitors to the preserve trundle along a wobbly wooden boardwalk, where they are welcomed by a breathtaking view of a serene, blue lake framed by stands of native flora: swamp loosestrife, pickerel weed, lotus flowers, swamp milkweed and buttonbush.
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James F. Mccarty, cleveland.com, "Geauga County's Snow Lake Preserve is environmental keystone of Cuyahoga Wetlands: (photos, videos)," 6 Aug. 2017
Purple loosestrife beetles were imported from Germany to another invasive species from overtaking the wetlands.
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Lydia Lohrer, Detroit Free Press, "How a beetle can protect hemlock trees from Great Lakes invader HWA," 5 Aug. 2017
Native loosestrife has tiny yellow buttercup flowers and bronze leaves.
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Perdita Buchan, The Christian Science Monitor, "Return of the natives," 24 May 2017
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'loosestrife.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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“Loosestrife.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/loosestrife. Accessed 4 Mar. 2021.
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Time Traveler for loosestrife
The first known use of loosestrife was in 1548
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