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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 insect
Isamar Reyes Arauz, a research assistant in the lab, watched the insects around the clock.
—
Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 27 Jan. 2026
Instead of conventional motors, spinning masses could drive wings at the extremely high frequencies needed for insect-like flight.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 27 Jan. 2026
Elephants regularly take dust baths to rid their hides of insects and irritation.
—Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
All of a sudden, this idea just popped into my head to put the film in the future, with no human beings left, and hardly any animal life, basically only insects.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for insect
Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 27 Jan. 2026
Instead of conventional motors, spinning masses could drive wings at the extremely high frequencies needed for insect-like flight.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 27 Jan. 2026
Elephants regularly take dust baths to rid their hides of insects and irritation.
—Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
All of a sudden, this idea just popped into my head to put the film in the future, with no human beings left, and hardly any animal life, basically only insects.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for insect
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insect
Noun
-
The ditch that’s up to 19 feet deep dwarfs the heavy machinery inside of it.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Selections available on the market include ‘Pride of Houston’, a medium to tall female shrub with a heavy fruit set, and ‘Schillings Dwarf’, a dwarf selection that grows only 3–4 feet tall and wide.—
Daniel Scott,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Finally, Marilyn is not presented as a cipher to be solved or quarry to be caged.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Jan. 2026
-
The Blind Owl is extremely dense, brimming with metaphors and ciphers and symbols.—
Amir Ahmadi Arian,
The Dial,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Many of Newsom’s critics who breathlessly report on his evil plans (that the left-wing mainstream media supposedly cover up) are just nobodies who feign authority and are obviously fronting for right-wing organizations.—
Dan Walters,
Oc Register,
16 Dec. 2025
-
Where else could award winning writers pop off about nothing at all, and nobodies could rattle the ivory towers?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Get your deck or patio ready with these lightweight, waterproof seats.—
Jacquelyn McGilvray,
PEOPLE,
28 Jan. 2026
-
The featherweight title was left vacant ahead of UFC 314 when Topuria moved up to lightweight, winning that belt at UFC 317 with a knockout victory over Charles Oliveira.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The Oh-My-God particle first interacted with an atomic nucleus in the upper atmosphere, producing a series of daughter particles that each maintain a fraction of the original particle’s momentum, which then collide with greater and greater numbers of particles, and so on.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Nipah outbreaks happen nearly every year in parts of Asia, often in Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore, with Bangladesh recording the highest number of infections.—
Michal Ruprecht,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Insect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insect. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
