as in dwarf
a person of no importance or influence
the magazine's editor in chief was notorious for treating staffers as insects, often not even bothering to learn their names
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of insect
Depending on the wedding venue, include items such as sunscreen, insect repellent, pain relievers, bottled water, and other helpful items that guests may appreciate during their stay.
—
Kate Donovan, Martha Stewart, 17 Apr. 2026
Threaded throughout is an even cooler environment to send them back into, whether snowshoeing the gently hilly grounds or admiring the Front Range from a boulder while noting plant and insect species.
—John Wenzel, Denver Post, 17 Apr. 2026
By taking advantage of the rapid evolution of bacterial and viral weapons, insects and other eukaryotes can accelerate their own evolutionary process to stay a step ahead of their enemies.
—Viviane Callier, Quanta Magazine, 15 Apr. 2026
The voices rise, with completeness and fullness like an ecstatic agreement of insects at the hottest moment of midday, and then: silence.
—Literary Hub, 14 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for insect
Kate Donovan, Martha Stewart, 17 Apr. 2026
Threaded throughout is an even cooler environment to send them back into, whether snowshoeing the gently hilly grounds or admiring the Front Range from a boulder while noting plant and insect species.
—John Wenzel, Denver Post, 17 Apr. 2026
By taking advantage of the rapid evolution of bacterial and viral weapons, insects and other eukaryotes can accelerate their own evolutionary process to stay a step ahead of their enemies.
—Viviane Callier, Quanta Magazine, 15 Apr. 2026
The voices rise, with completeness and fullness like an ecstatic agreement of insects at the hottest moment of midday, and then: silence.
—Literary Hub, 14 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for insect
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insect
Noun
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Consider selecting a dwarf variety and use a potting mix for acid-loving plants.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
4 May 2026
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Melissa Higgins, the wholesale manager at Sprague’s Nursery & Gardens Center, notes that in warmer climates, any dwarf, container-friendly peach variety would generally thrive on patios.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
3 May 2026
Noun
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As zonky cross-generational ciphers go, the group’s debut, Strictly 4 the Scythe, is no Hypnotize Camp Posse, the amalgam of Three 6 Mafia and a grip of artists signed to their Hypnotize Minds label in the early 2000s.—
Dylan Green,
Pitchfork,
12 Mar. 2026
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The still-unidentified Zodiac Killer, who terrorized the San Francisco Bay Area in the late 1960s, frequently sent threats, demands and ciphers to multiple local papers — namely the San Francisco Chronicle.—
Jami Ganz,
New York Daily News,
21 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Unlike some of his more strapping forebears (think Liam Neeson, Kevin Costner, or Aaron Eckhart), Odenkirk specializes in nobodies and normals: people one would not expect to be killing machines.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
16 Apr. 2026
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After all, why listen to a podcast with two nobodies co-hosting when a listener can get an hour from a familiar celebrity.—
Frank Racioppi,
Forbes.com,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The system works by firing lightweight, thin metal chains towards incoming UAVs.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
6 May 2026
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The Noni Glow Face Oil is Miranda’s favorite, a lightweight yet powerful face oil formulated to help visibly nourish, brighten and smooth dry or dull skin.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 May 2026
Noun
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Over the next seven years, the number of pharmacies contracted with 340B providers, nationwide, grew from 1,300 to almost 20,000.—
Dené K. Dryden,
Twin Cities,
8 May 2026
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Maine, too, saw its COVID numbers increase dramatically despite extremely high vaccination uptake.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Insect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insect. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
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