as in fairy
an imaginary being usually having a small human form and magical powers
in Europe, gnomes are thought to guard underground treasure, so that may be why statues of them are commonly placed in gardens
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 gnome
Included are dazzling light displays, live music and enchanting gnome houses.
—
Debra Skodack, Kansas City Star, 3 Dec. 2025
This year’s winner, Mary Hulsman from Concord, North Carolina, features an intricate display of five gnome houses.
—Elliott Harrell, Southern Living, 20 Nov. 2025
The Heeler family home is recreated in uncanny detail—from Bandit’s armchair to the backyard barbecue—with interactive games (led by a cheeky garden gnome named Rhonda), music, and secret nooks that delight kids and grown-ups.
—Alli Forde, Travel + Leisure, 6 Nov. 2025
Our love of gnomes is no secret, and a set of ten might just be enough for a holiday fix.
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gnome
Debra Skodack, Kansas City Star, 3 Dec. 2025
This year’s winner, Mary Hulsman from Concord, North Carolina, features an intricate display of five gnome houses.
—Elliott Harrell, Southern Living, 20 Nov. 2025
The Heeler family home is recreated in uncanny detail—from Bandit’s armchair to the backyard barbecue—with interactive games (led by a cheeky garden gnome named Rhonda), music, and secret nooks that delight kids and grown-ups.
—Alli Forde, Travel + Leisure, 6 Nov. 2025
Our love of gnomes is no secret, and a set of ten might just be enough for a holiday fix.
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gnome
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gnome
Noun
-
In podcasts, internet-comment sections, the replies to his viral Instagram videos, and stories from his friends and colleagues, Fleming is described as a Muppet, a fairy, a prophet, a cartoon.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Poppies and lupines made surprise appearances in January joining more traditional early bloomers like fairy duster and chuparosa.—
Roger Naylor,
AZCentral.com,
21 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The theft follows a similar incident in December, when members of the same group flooded into a Montreal grocery store dressed as Santa Clause and his elves, stealing food and leaving some of it gift-wrapped under a nearby Christmas tree.—
Max Saltman,
CNN Money,
4 Feb. 2026
-
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
Noun
-
To make the garden more sustainable and less reliant on mowing, Johnson replaced part of the front lawn with dwarf mondo grass.—
Lennie Omalza,
Louisville Courier Journal,
5 Mar. 2026
-
When his uncle Larry Tisch bought CBS, Spy called him a dwarf billionaire.—
Elise Taylor,
Vanity Fair,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Meet the goblin shark (Mitsukurina owstoni), a predator so rare that fewer than 250 individuals have ever been recorded worldwide.—
Melissa Cristina Márquez,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
The plot follows a young girl who ends up wishing away her baby brother into the goblin labyrinth.—
Lucia Cheng,
Des Moines Register,
14 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gnome.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gnome. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
