beetle 1 of 2

verb

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

beetle

2 of 2

noun

as in hammer

Related 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 beetle
Verb
Persistent drought has led to beetle infestations in the state’s ponderosa and piñon pine forests. — Sarah Henry, AZCentral.com, 28 Mar. 2026 Jonathan Carver, suggest the name may also refer to beetle larvae emerging from thawing tree bark. — Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 29 Jan. 2026
Noun
In a paper published this month in PLOS One, Alaei and her colleagues propose an alternative - employing a suite of superworms, a kind of hefty beetle larva that can capably pick a variety of animal skeletons clean. — Ari Daniel, NPR, 17 July 2026 Gardeners can naturally reduce beetle populations and protect their landscapes by planting geraniums among more susceptible ornamentals. — Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 11 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for beetle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beetle
  1. protrude
  2. hammer
  3. poke
  4. mallet
  5. bulge
  6. cane
  7. sledgehammer
  8. maul
Verb
  • The visual form demands a stark contrast between the protruding belly and the slimness of the rest of a woman’s body.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Tap the Cleaning Path Preferences tab to choose between Full Coverage Mode, which provides the most thorough cleaning coverage for square and rectangular pools, and Edge Guard Mode, designed for pools with protruding edges (coping).
    — John R. Delaney, PC Magazine, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of protrude
Noun
  • The suspect removes a hammer from his pocket and repeatedly strikes the statue before knocking it off its pedestal.
    — Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 6 Aug. 2026
  • There are a few brief, shining glimpses of the chemistry and character moments that made the first movie such a joy—like the early party scene where the team tries to lift Thor’s hammer—but Ultron is otherwise a slog.
    — EW Staff, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of hammer
Verb
  • Dike was waiting in the middle to poke it home, giving Orlando a 1-0 lead.
    — Kyle Foley, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026
  • But regardless of any lack of confidence in Hamas’ true intentions, in Mladenov’s faith in the ability to verify weapons decommissioning, or indeed Netanyahu’s own willingness to order any troop withdrawals, why poke Trump so publicly in the eye?
    — Andrew Carey, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of poke
Noun
  • In this 1970 photo, a 9-year-old Diana is holding a croquet mallet during a game at Itchenor, West Sussex.
    — Giovana Gelhoren, InStyle, 4 Aug. 2026
  • After butterflying the breast, place a piece of plastic wrap or parchment on top and use a meat mallet or small, heavy skillet to pound it to an even thickness.
    — Martha Stewart, Martha Stewart, 21 June 2026
Definition of mallet
Verb
  • As the compressed sides bulge outward under load, the tower’s structural strength drops sharply, frequently triggering sudden buckling or catastrophic collapse.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 31 July 2026
  • Okegbe recommends immediately discarding any can that’s bulging, leaking, heavily rusted, or dented.
    — Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 26 July 2026
Definition of bulge
Noun
  • Procaccini is recovering from a broken leg and uses a walker or cane.
    — Caroline Foreback, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026
  • These are people who use a cane, crutches, a rollator or a wheelchair some of the time rather than all of the time.
    — Keely Cat-Wells, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of cane
Noun
  • In the 1970s, Disabled students in Berkeley took sledgehammers to curbs and built ramps themselves.
    — Keely Cat-Wells, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Investigators on Monday were asking the public to help find masked suspects who used sledgehammers to smash display cases and steal more than $200,000 worth of jewelry at a store in Yuba City’s mall.
    — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of sledgehammer
Noun
  • While Wales prop Ben Warren was in the sin-bin for an upright tackle, winger Kurt-Lee Arendse crossed and South Africa finished the humid night with a try from a lineout maul by flanker Paul de Villiers, the man of the match in his third cap.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 July 2026
  • While many college corners lean on lax officiating to grab and maul, Johnson stays disciplined.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2026
Definition of maul

Browse Nearby Words

bees in one's bonnet
beetle
beetled
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Beetle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beetle. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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