praying mantis

noun

: mantis
especially : a European mantis (Mantis religiosa) that has been introduced into the U.S.

called also praying mantid

Examples of praying mantis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Props to whoever pitched the idea of performing in oversize bug costumes to Weezer, and props to the band for enthusiastically agreeing, because when that camera zooms in on drummer Patrick Wilson hitting a snare while dressed as a praying mantis? Marah Eakin, Vulture, 12 Aug. 2024 Jenny Read used to study praying mantis vision at Newcastle University—one time fitting tiny 3D glasses to the insects to figure out how their vision differed from our own—and whether understanding insect vision could lead us toward more efficient ways of building robotic vision. Matt Reynolds, WIRED, 2 Oct. 2024 The bees, the beetles, even the cute praying mantis that when hatching looks like the coming of the zombie apocalypse and that bites off the heads of their mates ... Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, 20 Sep. 2024 And without missing a beat, didn’t Marlo reach down and pick up this praying mantis and carry it with her across to the other side of the street and put it on the lawn? Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 31 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for praying mantis 

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1890, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of praying mantis was circa 1890

Dictionary Entries Near praying mantis

Cite this Entry

“Praying mantis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/praying%20mantis. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

praying mantis

noun
: mantis
especially : a European mantis that is now found in the U.S.

More from Merriam-Webster on praying mantis

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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