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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Recent Examples of insect
Agricultural officials are sounding the alarm after an invasive insect was recently found on grape plants sold at Costco stores throughout the Bay Area.
—
Jason Green, Mercury News, 27 May 2026
Those that smell are thermogenic, meaning their spadixes generate heat that radiates their tell-tale smell through the air, attracting insects that crave rotting meat.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 27 May 2026
Lovebugs — the annoying, gooey black insects that splatter on your car’s windshield and grille while in an amorous embrace — have returned in mass numbers this month after recent concerns by experts that the bugs may have been headed for extinction.
—Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 May 2026
At the time, Gates was in his mosquito-net era, having come to realize that the insects are the most dangerous animals on Earth.
—Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 27 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for insect
Jason Green, Mercury News, 27 May 2026
Those that smell are thermogenic, meaning their spadixes generate heat that radiates their tell-tale smell through the air, attracting insects that crave rotting meat.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 27 May 2026
Lovebugs — the annoying, gooey black insects that splatter on your car’s windshield and grille while in an amorous embrace — have returned in mass numbers this month after recent concerns by experts that the bugs may have been headed for extinction.
—Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 May 2026
At the time, Gates was in his mosquito-net era, having come to realize that the insects are the most dangerous animals on Earth.
—Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 27 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for insect
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insect
Noun
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Beneath extraordinarily dry skies, travelers can watch the Milky Way stretch overhead while the Magellanic Clouds — two dwarf galaxies visible only from the southern hemisphere — slowly rotate around the south celestial pole.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2026
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Many native and non-native shrubs that bloom in spring also are good nectar sources, such as dwarf fothergilla, chokeberry, winterberry holly, Virginia sweetspire, Carolina allspice, beautyberry and viburnums.—
Beth Botts,
Chicago Tribune,
23 May 2026
Noun
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Consider a dashboard that shows applications, including keys and libraries; network traffic protocols and ciphers; hardware, such as HSMs and TPMs; and third-party dependencies, including cryptographic or software bills of materials.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
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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
Noun
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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
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The simplest option is to drape some lightweight netting over your fruit trees or shrubs.—
Gemma Johnstone,
The Spruce,
24 May 2026
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The material has a lightweight feel that's breathable on the hottest days, but still holds enough structure to feel more defined.—
Tanya Sharma,
PEOPLE,
24 May 2026
Noun
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The decision to launch Allen’s show in Colbert’s time slot on a Friday was surprising, because none of the current crop of late-night programs airs originals regularly on Fridays, meaning the audience does not regularly tune to them in typical numbers.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
29 May 2026
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The underlying numbers are just as troubling.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Insect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insect. Accessed 1 Jun. 2026.
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