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
In reality, Ishiguro spotted these regular-size praying mantises along a roadside in his Japanese hometown—albeit in a macabre embrace.
—
Tracy Scott Forson, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Mar. 2025
The praying mantises would stay immoble anywhere from a few seconds to more than five minutes, researchers said.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 21 Mar. 2025
Some are playful — toying with a butterfly or eying a praying mantis.
—Leah Asmelash, CNN, 26 Feb. 2025
As with the Pixar film, the bugs (and adjacent creatures) are the main characters here, from cockroaches, monarch butterflies, and praying mantises to bees, spiders, and even hermit crabs.
—Ars Technica, 14 Jan. 2025
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Tracy Scott Forson, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Mar. 2025
The praying mantises would stay immoble anywhere from a few seconds to more than five minutes, researchers said.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 21 Mar. 2025
Some are playful — toying with a butterfly or eying a praying mantis.
—Leah Asmelash, CNN, 26 Feb. 2025
As with the Pixar film, the bugs (and adjacent creatures) are the main characters here, from cockroaches, monarch butterflies, and praying mantises to bees, spiders, and even hermit crabs.
—Ars Technica, 14 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for praying mantis
Cite this Entry
“Praying mantis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/praying%20mantis. Accessed 23 May. 2025.
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