beetles 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of beetle
as in protrudes
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"

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

beetles

2 of 2

noun

plural of beetle
as in hammers

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 beetles
Noun
These small beetles are sometimes confused with ladybeetles (which feed on bean beetle eggs), thanks to their similar shape and black spots. — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 16 Apr. 2026 What are Asian lady beetles Harmonia axyridis, also known as the Asian lady beetle, is a relatively new arrival to this country. — Jordan Green, Nashville Tennessean, 19 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beetles
  1. protrudes
  2. bats
  3. pokes
  4. canes
  5. bulges
  6. sledgehammers
  7. stands out
  8. billy clubs
Verb
  • Ping Ping, the male, has dark black circles around his eyes, while Fu Shuang, the female, has a forehead that protrudes a bit, according to the Xinhua News Agency.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 27 Sep. 2026
  • Other animals on-site include a stable full of horses and Cowboy the tortoise, who is about the size of a lawnmower and whose head protrudes from what looks like a Venus flytrap made of bone.
    — Emma Madden, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of protrudes
Noun
  • Health officials are urging residents not to touch bats, including bats that appear sick or dead.
    — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 4 Oct. 2026
  • The difference was clear when contrasting Braves leadoff hitter Drake Baldwin’s first and second at-bats against Skubal.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of bats
Verb
  • And yet there’s this piece in the policy which pokes its head [and forces them to find a surrogate in Texas].
    — Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The International Kazoo Championship pokes a little fun at the rigidity of the main stage.
    — David Alm, Longreads, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of pokes
Noun
  • This is because fruit development consumes much of the vine’s energy, so removing the fruit at this point allows the vine’s energy to continue to develop a strong cordon, canes (vertical shoots), and root system.
    — The San Diego Union Tribune, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Sep. 2026
  • Choose 3-6 strong, healthy, outside canes per plant to keep and leave 3-5 buds on each cane.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of canes
Verb
  • According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), a brain aneurysm is a weakened area in an artery that bulges outward and fills with blood.
    — Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
Definition of bulges
Noun
  • Five offenders entered a Green Oaks business early Wednesday and used crowbars and sledgehammers to break into gaming machines, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
    — Clifford Ward, Chicago Tribune, 11 Sep. 2026
  • The Lalique Museum in Wingen-sur-Moder, further east near France's border with Germany, has not reopened since the July 5 theft of jewelry there from six display cases busted open with sledgehammers and hammers.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of sledgehammers
Verb
  • The turnover stands out compared with some neighboring school districts.
    — Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 30 Sep. 2026
  • The vocal and acting prowess of the cast stands out, in a large-scale production that matches the level of major international musicals.
    — Franchesca Guim, Billboard, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of stands out
Noun
  • After about a minute and half, Mauldin said, police began to attack the demonstrators with billy clubs.
    — Maya Miller, ProPublica, 15 May 2026
  • Mayhem erupted when the strikers were attacked with tear gas and billy clubs.
    — Heller McAlpin, Christian Science Monitor, 3 June 2025
Definition of billy clubs

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Cite this Entry

“Beetles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beetles. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.

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