bead 1 of 2

noun

ˈbēd How to pronounce bead (audio)
Definition of beadnext
as in glob
the quantity of fluid that falls naturally in one rounded mass squeeze a bead or two of glue onto the seam

Synonyms & Similar Words

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bead

2 of 2

verb

as in to pearl

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of bead
Noun
The blankets are filled with beads or pellets to calm anxiety and stress for better sleep. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 31 Oct. 2026 Ear seeding is a needle-free acupuncture technique that uses small beads held to the ear with adhesive to stimulate specific pressure points. — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 30 Oct. 2026
Verb
The protective barrier causes water to bead up and roll off, preventing mineral deposits and stains. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 30 May 2026 Enroll in a Craft Class Many crafts stores offer hands-on activities for kids like scrapbooking, box decorating, bead stringing, pottery, and more. — Robin Westen, Parents, 21 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for bead
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bead
  1. glob
  2. pearl
  3. droplet
  4. pellet
  5. drip
  6. lump
  7. drop
  8. sphere
Noun
  • Then, in 2007, researchers noted that spidroins engineered in the lab formed liquidlike globs.
    — Yasemin Saplakoglu, Quanta Magazine, 28 Oct. 2026
  • But globs of liquid mercury worked just fine to show the melting shards coming together, even though its toxicity meant the special effects crew had to wear protective gear over the two-day shoot.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of glob
Verb
  • The discovery and export of hydrocarbons in the 20th century transformed relatively small maritime trading and pearling societies into high-income states integrated into global energy markets.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Mar. 2026
  • In the summer of 2024, while visiting my grandmother in China, my husband gave me a pearl ring and asked if we could be pearled.
    — Shayla Love, New Yorker, 25 Feb. 2026
Definition of pearl
Noun
  • Measles spreads through the air and through respiratory droplets, like those released when someone sneezes.
    — Rebecca Smullin Dawson, The Conversation, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Caravel’s platform combines cell-free protein synthesis, microfluidic droplets and bacterial spore display to test millions of protein designs in parallel.
    — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of droplet
Verb
  • The cold air is the same, and the snow pellets my cap, sifts under my collar.
    — Jonny Diamond, Literary Hub, 27 May 2025
  • The technique has produced delicious, consistent results from campsites in Big Sur, California, and Baja, Mexico—and in everything from frying oil to pellet grills to standard home ovens.
    — Wes Siler, Outside Online, 25 Nov. 2024
Definition of pellet
Noun
  • At some wellness clinics, a coenzyme called NAD+, or nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, is specifically advertised as an anti-aging IV drip.
    — Renée Onque, CNBC, 11 Nov. 2026
  • Unable to swallow, with advanced Alzheimer’s, she was being fed by intravenous drip.
    — Kieran Setiya, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2026
Definition of drip
Verb
  • Others lumped additional Republican leaders into the mix, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA).
    — Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Moros, too, took issue with lumping Hispanics together as a monolithic voting bloc, citing the need for nuance.
    — Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of lump
Noun
  • But after five years, that drop didn't translate into saving people from suffering cardiovascular complications.
    — Rob Stein, NPR, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Acknowledgement of the defensive limitations of certain rotation components could have potentially forestalled the drop to defensive depths.
    — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of drop
Verb
  • The night culminated with a countdown as a glowing geodesic sphere 12 feet in diameter and weighing almost six tons descended from its lofty perch atop One Times Square.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 1 Jan. 2023
  • But with those four, Grande was able to establish her credibility in the fragrance sphere early in her music career.
    — Emily Jensen, Harper's BAZAAR, 16 Nov. 2022
Definition of sphere

Browse Nearby Words

beacons
bead
beaded
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Cite this Entry

“Bead.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bead. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bead

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