beetle 1 of 2

Definition of beetlenext
as in to protrude
to extend outward beyond a usual point houses in the town commonly have second stories that beetle over the ground floors, and the overhang is known as a "bump"

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

beetle

2 of 2

noun

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 beetle
Verb
Jonathan Carver, suggest the name may also refer to beetle larvae emerging from thawing tree bark. Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 29 Jan. 2026 The reason is that beetle infestations within storage areas cause the agricultural products to become inedible. Paula Wethington, CBS News, 14 Jan. 2026
Noun
Trimming oaks during winter prevents oak wilt, a fungal disease that spreads through the Nitdulidae beetle, which feeds on tree sap found in fresh wounds. Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 21 Feb. 2026 Where is the beetle going with it? Alexandra Petri, The Atlantic, 14 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for beetle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beetle
Verb
  • The jaguar growled, whirled and bit off the protruding head of the arrow.
    Delbert L. Chears, Outdoor Life, 5 Mar. 2026
  • And yes, the non-recessed device does indeed protrude out from the bottom of the shoe, so it's intended for use with road bike shoes and pedals only.
    Ben Coxworth March 03, New Atlas, 3 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Costco recommends wrapping it in a towel and smashing it into pieces with a hammer.
    Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Mar. 2026
  • Clean spilled paint from the lid before closing, and use a hammer to tightly close the can.
    Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 5 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Nothing really itches my brain like a crisp white tee poking out the top of a sweater.
    Amanda Le, InStyle, 3 Mar. 2026
  • Parr’s humor is also detectably British, with a poking quality that only rarely verges into outright peevishness.
    Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • To achieve this, place the breasts, one at a time, in a resealable plastic bag or between two sheets of parchment, and gently pound them with a meat mallet, rolling pin, or potato masher until evenly flattened.
    John Becker, Bon Appetit Magazine, 20 Jan. 2026
  • Clapperless cowbells can come with a wooden mallet and are used as musical instruments.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 15 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • To stabilize bulging sides, drive rebar rods into the soil along the exterior of the beds.
    Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Mar. 2026
  • Fibroids that bulge into the uterine cavity—called submucosal fibroids—are often associated with the most significant bleeding changes, regardless of size.
    Beth Krietsch, SELF, 2 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Officer Richard Perry walked into his arraignment Wednesday in a neck brace, using a cane.
    Kristina Rex, CBS News, 4 Mar. 2026
  • Stars would debut daring fashion statements there, like Selma Blair, who showed off her jeweled cane after announcing her MS diagnosis.
    Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 3 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Kirn Young Kim, then 16, wasn’t in the garage where his friends beat Tay to death with baseball bats and a sledgehammer.
    Sean Emery, Oc Register, 3 Mar. 2026
  • Now is the time for decisive military aid and sledgehammer sanctions on major buyers of Russian oil and gas like China and India who are fueling Russia’s war machine.
    U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Hartford Courant, 28 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Down four points with 70 seconds to play, and facing fourth-and-1 on Jacksonville’s 11-yard line, Buffalo called for a Josh Allen quarterback sneak, the claw-and-maul play commonly known as the tush push.
    Tim Graham, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026
  • The half ended with the Free Jacks once again putting the Sabercats under pressure, trying to force their way over the tryline through a rolling maul, and twice failing to score.
    Vitas Carosella, Forbes.com, 28 June 2025

Cite this Entry

“Beetle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beetle. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on beetle

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster