as in elves
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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Recent Examples of gnomes
Move over, pink yard flamingos and garden gnomes—the porch goose is back.
—
Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 May 2026
Although the term might conjure thoughts of minuscule garden gnomes and fairies, the reality is quite the opposite.
—ABC News, 12 May 2026
The garden gnomes have been another hot seller.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 11 Apr. 2026
The gnomes have become wildly popular — and increasingly valuable — over the last decade.
—CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026
Masters gnomes are a hot commodity over fears this is their final year.
—Jackie Powell, NBC news, 10 Apr. 2026
There was a blithe, mildly stoned look in everyone’s eyes, and most of the women were dressed like gnomes while all the men appeared ergonomically outfitted to climb a cliff face but were instead commuting to their office jobs.
—Catherine Lacey, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026
Buyers are going to get a first look at ten international drama series that Series Mania has identified as global hits-in-the-making, with gnomes, Nazis, gamers, fertility clinics and the British PM all in the mix.
—Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 13 Mar. 2026
With their tiny fences and cottages, a dozen gnomes stood stiff as if at attention yet looked so happy residing on their brook’s muddy banks.
—Chris John Amorosino, Hartford Courant, 13 Mar. 2026
Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 May 2026
Although the term might conjure thoughts of minuscule garden gnomes and fairies, the reality is quite the opposite.
—ABC News, 12 May 2026
The garden gnomes have been another hot seller.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 11 Apr. 2026
The gnomes have become wildly popular — and increasingly valuable — over the last decade.
—CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026
Masters gnomes are a hot commodity over fears this is their final year.
—Jackie Powell, NBC news, 10 Apr. 2026
There was a blithe, mildly stoned look in everyone’s eyes, and most of the women were dressed like gnomes while all the men appeared ergonomically outfitted to climb a cliff face but were instead commuting to their office jobs.
—Catherine Lacey, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026
Buyers are going to get a first look at ten international drama series that Series Mania has identified as global hits-in-the-making, with gnomes, Nazis, gamers, fertility clinics and the British PM all in the mix.
—Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 13 Mar. 2026
With their tiny fences and cottages, a dozen gnomes stood stiff as if at attention yet looked so happy residing on their brook’s muddy banks.
—Chris John Amorosino, Hartford Courant, 13 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gnomes
Noun
-
The new version will still have the traditional arrow counting down the days to the holiday but also will include moving elves who are helping prepare things for Christmas.—
Sal Pizarro,
Mercury News,
30 May 2026
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There’s also caviar and cookies and Christmas trees and Housewives and Bravolebrities, all surrounded by twink elves in Christmas G-strings.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
And creatures — fairies, a faun, the unforgettable Pale Man, with eyes in the palms of his hands — reveal a world of deeper and darker enchantment.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
13 May 2026
-
According to traditional folklore, finding a ring of mushrooms on your property means that fairies have been at work.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 May 2026
Noun
-
In recent weeks, social media users, especially on X, have been noticing increasing references to goblins, along with other fantasy creatures such as gremlins, ogres and trolls in ChatGPT’s answers to user queries.—
Rob Wile,
NBC news,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Anecdotal evidence on social media shows some users complaining about GPT’s penchant for focusing on goblins in completely unrelated conversations in recent days.—
Kyle Orland,
ArsTechnica,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Writer Steve Phillips’ investments in the race dwarfs spending by any other single donor.—
Ben Paviour,
Sacbee.com,
29 May 2026
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Mini dwarfs are small-scale race cars with a maximum speed of 34 mph.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 May 2026
Noun
-
Maeve learns that the legends she was raised on — stories of faeries, kelpies and seelies — are actually true.—
Carly Tagen-Dye,
PEOPLE,
22 May 2026
-
And thank the faeries for that.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
29 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gnomes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gnomes. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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