as in fairy
an imaginary being usually having a small human form and magical powers
elves are often portrayed as rather mischievous
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of elf
One of Magnason’s first jobs was at the National Archives of Iceland, where he was surrounded by books about the old Norse gods, colonial histories, and even stories about elves.
—
Marya E. Gates, IndieWire, 27 Jan. 2026
Sets like Hobbiton and Rivendell (a home for some elves) are breathtaking, the makeup and prosthetics of the orcs still terrifying, and the costumes ethereal and otherworldly.
—Charlotte Observer, 23 Jan. 2026
The film centers on Jonas, a troubled practitioner of magic who assembles a group of companions – including rogue Dagon, elf Nimue and assassin Solomon – to investigate a mysterious corruption spreading through a quiet village in the mystical Realm of Eldervin.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 13 Jan. 2026
Last December, Yvette Olazar, a 33-year-old mom of three, had a hunch that her daughter Natalie, who was in 6th grade, had stopped believing in magical elves and Christmas miracles.
—Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 26 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for elf
Marya E. Gates, IndieWire, 27 Jan. 2026
Sets like Hobbiton and Rivendell (a home for some elves) are breathtaking, the makeup and prosthetics of the orcs still terrifying, and the costumes ethereal and otherworldly.
—Charlotte Observer, 23 Jan. 2026
The film centers on Jonas, a troubled practitioner of magic who assembles a group of companions – including rogue Dagon, elf Nimue and assassin Solomon – to investigate a mysterious corruption spreading through a quiet village in the mystical Realm of Eldervin.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 13 Jan. 2026
Last December, Yvette Olazar, a 33-year-old mom of three, had a hunch that her daughter Natalie, who was in 6th grade, had stopped believing in magical elves and Christmas miracles.
—Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 26 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for elf
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elf
Noun
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The original is set in an Australian rainforest populated by fairies, one of whom accidentally shrinks a logger to fairy size.—
Mike Fleming Jr,
Deadline,
17 Apr. 2026
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Garden Figurine Every fairy garden needs a few enchanting creatures to truly bring it to life.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
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For example, a dwarf galaxy in isolation might need as long as 14 billion years — essentially the age of the universe — to fully reach its stable form.—
Paul Sutter,
Space.com,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Look for taller varieties and avoid dwarfs.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The move forces her to plunge herself into his fantastical maze-realm to retrieve him in 13 hours, lest he be turned into a goblin.—
David Faris,
TheWeek,
16 Apr. 2026
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This one just happens to involve wizards, goblins, and one savage, half-blind dragon.—
Séamas O'Reilly,
Vulture,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
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And thank the faeries for that.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
29 Aug. 2025
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The Unseelie Court is the bastion of malevolent faeries who harm humans for their amusement or to exact revenge.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes,
27 Nov. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Elf.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elf. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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