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 a clip from A Real Bug's Life, the new Disney+ original series from National Geographic, a young unicorn praying mantis ventures out into the world to find food.
—
Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 15 Feb. 2024
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.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 24 Jan. 2024
The praying mantis is nature’s version of Corky’s Pest Control.
—Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Oct. 2023
National Geographic/Amy Gilchrist Tim Cockerill handles a praying mantis.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 24 Jan. 2024
This short collection of essays finds the good in the small things, from birthdays to the praying mantis.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, Peoplemag, 23 Nov. 2023
In many parts of the world the praying mantis is encouraged because of their appetite for insect pests that damage crops.
—Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Oct. 2023
This pale-skinned home invader has long finger-like digits instead of toes, and stalks through Brynn’s bedroom like a praying mantis.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 22 Sep. 2023
Reflective of Minecraft building blocks, schools of fish, sharks, and praying mantises snaked from screen to screen in a sea of blue.
—Kalia Richardson, Rolling Stone, 4 Sep. 2023
Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 15 Feb. 2024
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.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 24 Jan. 2024
The praying mantis is nature’s version of Corky’s Pest Control.
—Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Oct. 2023
National Geographic/Amy Gilchrist Tim Cockerill handles a praying mantis.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 24 Jan. 2024
This short collection of essays finds the good in the small things, from birthdays to the praying mantis.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, Peoplemag, 23 Nov. 2023
In many parts of the world the praying mantis is encouraged because of their appetite for insect pests that damage crops.
—Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Oct. 2023
This pale-skinned home invader has long finger-like digits instead of toes, and stalks through Brynn’s bedroom like a praying mantis.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 22 Sep. 2023
Reflective of Minecraft building blocks, schools of fish, sharks, and praying mantises snaked from screen to screen in a sea of blue.
—Kalia Richardson, Rolling Stone, 4 Sep. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'praying mantis.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“Praying mantis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/praying%20mantis. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
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