as in nymph
a mythical goddess represented as a young girl and said to live outdoors
dryads were said to live within trees, their lives ending when the life of the tree ended
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of dryad
Having regained his health, Geralt heads off with Jaskier and the dryad Milva to find Ciri, following a little skirmish with some power-mad guards.
—
Nick Romano, EW.com, 27 July 2023
Merlin and Cosmo are both in their 30s, with dark curly hair and similarly rangy builds, though Merlin’s face is more delicate, as though a distant ancestor might have been part elf or dryad.
—Jennifer Kahn, New York Times, 8 June 2023
Breaking off a piece of the mushroom, Sheldrake pointed out its pores and scaly top, then tentatively identified it as dryad saddle.
—Jennifer Kahn, New York Times, 8 June 2023
Players will start out controlling a centaur with a whip as their dungeon manager, but eventually a dryad enchantress and monkey engineer can also be unlocked, with each master necessitating various styles of gameplay.
—Jason Bennett, Arkansas Online, 24 May 2021
The taste is close to water, only water as if just rained down and sipped from a blossom, with a delicate, attenuated sweetness: what a dryad might live on.
—Ligaya Mishan, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2018
Isaac, the dryad Lena Greenwood, and the fire-spider Smudge lead the efforts to uncover the mystery.
—John Booth, WIRED, 7 Aug. 2012
Nick Romano, EW.com, 27 July 2023
Merlin and Cosmo are both in their 30s, with dark curly hair and similarly rangy builds, though Merlin’s face is more delicate, as though a distant ancestor might have been part elf or dryad.
—Jennifer Kahn, New York Times, 8 June 2023
Breaking off a piece of the mushroom, Sheldrake pointed out its pores and scaly top, then tentatively identified it as dryad saddle.
—Jennifer Kahn, New York Times, 8 June 2023
Players will start out controlling a centaur with a whip as their dungeon manager, but eventually a dryad enchantress and monkey engineer can also be unlocked, with each master necessitating various styles of gameplay.
—Jason Bennett, Arkansas Online, 24 May 2021
The taste is close to water, only water as if just rained down and sipped from a blossom, with a delicate, attenuated sweetness: what a dryad might live on.
—Ligaya Mishan, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2018
Isaac, the dryad Lena Greenwood, and the fire-spider Smudge lead the efforts to uncover the mystery.
—John Booth, WIRED, 7 Aug. 2012
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dryad
Noun
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Several people from the Greater Cincinnati area have posted photos to social media showing adult cicadas from Brood XIV resting on plants after molting, with their nymph shells nearby.—
Chad Murphy,
The Enquirer,
2 July 2025
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Up to 10 weeks later, after the eggs hatch, the nymphs drop to the ground and dig into the soil, feeding on host plant roots.—
Mariyam Muhammad,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
19 May 2025
Noun
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That season’s Pirates of the High Seas & Renaissance Fest is a local favorite, with sword fights, fire performers, and mermaids drawing families and fantasy lovers to the shore.—
Carrie Honaker,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Aug. 2025
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Photo sessions in mermaid gear provide proof that mermaids do exist.—
Johanna Read,
Forbes.com,
22 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dryad.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dryad. Accessed 25 Aug. 2025.
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