plural roach also roaches
1
: a silver-green European freshwater cyprinid fish (Rutilus rutilus)
also
: any of various related fishes (such as some shiners)
2
: any of several American freshwater sunfishes (family Centrarchidae)
1
: a curved cut in the edge of a sail to prevent chafing or to secure a better fit
2
: a roll of hair brushed straight back from the forehead or side of the head
roached; roaching; roaches
1
: to cut so that the remainder stands upright
roach a horse's mane
2
: to cause to arch
specifically
: to brush (the hair) in a roach
—often used with up
Examples of roach in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Jonathan Zeller, New Yorker, 15 Jan. 2026
Inspectors observed dead roaches in the light shields.
—Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Jan. 2026
Transfer these foods to storage containers with tightly-fitting lids to keep out pantry moths, roaches, ants, and other critters.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 28 Dec. 2025
This time, there were only three live roaches in a bucket in front of a food prep table and seven dead roaches elsewhere, including two on a lid to a cinnamon bucket.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 26 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for roach
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Noun
No ordinary exterminator can vanquish these genius roaches, who are not only brilliant but also full of a white-hot thirst for revenge that can never be sated.
—Jonathan Zeller, New Yorker, 15 Jan. 2026
Inspectors observed dead roaches in the light shields.
—Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Jan. 2026
Transfer these foods to storage containers with tightly-fitting lids to keep out pantry moths, roaches, ants, and other critters.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 28 Dec. 2025
This time, there were only three live roaches in a bucket in front of a food prep table and seven dead roaches elsewhere, including two on a lid to a cinnamon bucket.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 26 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for roach
Cite this Entry
“Roach.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/roach. Accessed 18 Jan. 2026.
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