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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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 elf Labubus were inspired by elves from Nordic folk stories and created by Kasing Lung. Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2025 Enter a band of cheerful, industrious elves who work through the night, quietly finishing his designs. Dan Rockmore, New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2025 Moms are the do-it-all elves who make the holidays happen. Elizabeth Broadbent, Miami Herald, 1 Aug. 2025 The bar is decorated with candy canes, stockings, elves, Santas, reindeer, presents and Christmas trees. Abby Hamblin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for elf
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elf
Noun
  • Pair the duo with fairy lights, a thin linen runner, and more faux foliage to create a stunning seasonal scene.
    Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Sep. 2025
  • The fairy houses – known as domus de janas in Sardinian – date back over 5,000 years to the late Neolithic and Copper Age.
    Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Leigh Gill is set to play Griphook, after his brief appearance as another goblin, Red, in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
    Shania Russell, EW.com, 1 Sep. 2025
  • At their largest, Orchestina goblin spiders are about one-tenth of an inch long — smaller than a grain of rice.
    Lauren Liebhaber, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Later, of course, it was revealed that a quite human dwarf was hidden within the machine, directing the Turk’s gameplay.
    Adam Verner September 3, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025
  • The shrub grows 6 to 15 feet tall; there are dwarf, medium-sized, and tall varieties.
    Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 24 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • And thank the faeries for that.
    Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 29 Aug. 2025
  • 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

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Cite this Entry

“Elf.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elf. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

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