imp

noun

ˈimp How to pronounce imp (audio)
Definition of impnext
1
as in monkey
an appealingly mischievous person scooped up the little imp and took him to bed

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in demon
an evil spirit a story about a crumbling mansion infested with a brood of imps

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 imp It’s believed that the 13th-century castle is haunted by a magical imp who frequently visits the Markomanka and Hlíza, or black, towers. — Sophie Friedman, AFAR Media, 22 Oct. 2025 Tim Burton's film explores the border between life and the afterlife with some of the best in the biz, from Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin’s wholesome (and dead) homeowners to Winona Ryder's angsty teen to her ridiculous mother (Catherine O'Hara) to the imp with a limp (Michael Keaton). — Gwen Ihnat, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Oct. 2025 The mushroom’s healing properties also lead to hallucinations, often involving mysterious white imps, who should be adorable and instead come across as menacing little ghouls. — Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 18 June 2025 Combining animation and live action, the film continues the adventures of the magical imp Pumuckl. — Ed Meza, Variety, 13 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for imp
Recent Examples of Synonyms for imp
  1. monkey
  2. demon
  3. devil
  4. ghost
  5. ghoul
  6. vampire
Noun
  • Its name combines the calm associated with the moon and the playful curiosity of a monkey.
    — Emma Clapp, USA Today, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Other animals depicted in pinturas rupestres include armadillos, jaguars, and monkeys.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of monkey
Noun
  • Watch On In 15th-century Japan, Ashitaka (Yoji Matsuda), the prince of a dying kingdom called Emishi, is infected by a forest demon and travels west searching for a forest god that provides a cure.
    — David Faris, TheWeek, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The demon Rasho-gan has taken over the shrine and corrupted worshippers’ prayers.
    — Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of demon
Noun
  • Throughout the movie, two mentors stand over each of his shoulders like an aproned angel and devil.
    — Alison Willmore, Vulture, 7 Aug. 2026
  • There’s also a devil, all too ready to perch on his other shoulder, too.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of devil
Noun
  • Gradually, Shaban becomes a ghost of himself, in what comes to feel like a natural outcome in a society where a man’s value can be calculated down to the very last cent.
    — Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 16 Aug. 2026
  • No manufacturer wants a multimillion-dollar jet sitting on the tarmac awaiting chairs or flying across the Atlantic carrying ghost suites.
    — Edward Russell, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of ghost
Noun
  • Practicality Viewers know Walton Goggins’ Cooper Howard as a ghoul because of radiation from a bomb dropped in 2077.
    — Beatrice Verhoeven, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Algol relates to the Arabic al-ghül, which signifies demon or ghoul.
    — Jan Tumlir, Artforum, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of ghoul
Noun
  • Bedbugs are sometimes called the vampires of the insect world — hiding during the day and coming out at night to feast on human blood.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Critics and audiences alike went gaga over Sam Reid’s glammed-out turn as a bloodthirsty vampire gone rock star in AMC’s The Vampire Lestat.
    — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of vampire

Browse Nearby Words

immutableness
imp
impact
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Imp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/imp. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on imp

Nglish: Translation of imp for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of divulge

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All