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"

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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
  • In Milan, where violent protests occurred last weekend, security forces bolstered by hundreds of military troops conducted searches and confiscated baseball bats, fireworks and face masks from scores of protesters.
    — Joseph Ataman, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
  • With glowing bats, spiders and eyes, the lights accent the historic home with just the right touch.
    — Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 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
  • Questions that have been proposed for removal deal with memory, fatigue, arthritis, difficulty walking and climbing stairs, as well as others about the use of hearing aids, canes, wheelchairs and scooters.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026
  • 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
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
  • The Europol report, meanwhile, revealed that these heists are increasingly using tools such as sledgehammers, axes, crowbars –– and even explosives.
    — Lianne Kolirin, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2026
  • In 2024 its activists broke into a factory owned by Israeli weapons manufacturer Elbit Systems UK, smashing equipment with sledgehammers and crowbars.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of sledgehammers
Verb
  • An infinity pool and full-service spa offer a wellness experience that stands out for a boutique property.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026
  • But the Vega Foundation stands out as a leader in the field, with commissions regularly popping up in biennials and museums.
    — Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of stands out
Noun
  • Swarms of police officers descended from helicopters and beat them with billy clubs and metal shields.
    — E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
  • After about a minute and half, Mauldin said, police began to attack the demonstrators with billy clubs.
    — Maya Miller, ProPublica, 15 May 2026
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 26 Oct. 2026.

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