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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of gnome
The stop-motion Harrison has friendly interactions with gnomes, a Venus flytrap, a distinguished-looking oak tree, and even a sentient being who lives in a cave.
—
Devon Ivie, Vulture, 16 Dec. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for gnome
Devon Ivie, Vulture, 16 Dec. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for gnome
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gnome
Noun
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Some are purely photo ops, such as an opportunity for little ones to take a class photo with Bluey and her pals, while others aim to inspire exploration, such as a mini gnome village or fairy garden.—
Todd Martens,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Mar. 2026
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The most endangered is the New Zealand fairy tern, tara iti, with a population of less than 50, including 10 breeding females.—
Tom Page,
CNN Money,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The puckish figure draws heavily on Nordic fairy tales, including stories of elves.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Sourcing Journal,
24 Mar. 2026
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Not as great of a kids’ parade as the one at Christmas with elves and Santa Claus and toys and snowmen.—
David McGrath,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
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In a new study published on Monday in the Astrophysical Journal, researchers used computers to simulate the two dwarf galaxies’ 100-million-year-long collision.—
Joseph Howlett,
Scientific American,
19 Mar. 2026
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Amateur astronomers can squint into an eight-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope and learn how to identify a dwarf galaxy from a planetary nebula.—
Mark Johanson,
Outside,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
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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
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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 29 Mar. 2026.
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