insect

noun

ˈin-ˌsekt How to pronounce insect (audio)
Definition of insectnext
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

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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 Indeed, snuffing out that insect’s life may have strengthened her sense of belonging. — Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026 When an insect hits the web, vibrations from the force travel along the threads and help the spider locate the prey. — Aliasger K. Salem, The Conversation, 4 Aug. 2026 Dragonflies prefer to attack from below, in the blind spot of a flying insect. — Rachel Sargent Mirus, Hartford Courant, 3 Aug. 2026 Cyborg insects use the creature’s own muscles to move, so such hybrids consume less power than small artificial robots used for similar purposes. — ArsTechnica, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for insect
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insect
  1. dwarf
  2. cipher
  3. nobody
  4. lightweight
  5. number
Noun
  • To avoid this, sow dwarf crepe myrtles at least 4 to 6 feet apart, space standard-sized trees at least 8 feet from each other, and keep crepe myrtles of any size at least 3 feet away from fencing.
    — Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Around the dozens of containers that make Toolik the US’s largest research station in the Arctic, musk ox and caribou graze on dwarf birches and fragrant labrador tea, while Arctic ground squirrels pop out of their burrows to survey the tundra.
    — Denise Hruby, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026
Definition of dwarf
Noun
  • But in my view, our relationships to animals, whose lives are untouched by the existential woes and artifices of personhood, are the richest and most evident ciphers for our own often inscrutable psyches.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 June 2026
  • 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
Definition of cipher
Noun
  • Yvonne and Nick’s disastrous wedding dinner is the day the cast went from nobodies to actual practitioners of the reality-television arts and sciences.
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 1 July 2026
  • Despite the tragicomic instability and the rotating cast of nobodies temporarily tasked with running the country, when seen in macroeconomic terms, Peru appears to be doing just fine, thank you.
    — Daniel Alarcón, New Yorker, 4 June 2026
Definition of nobody
Noun
  • Its lightweight, plug-and-play design and vibrant blue LED lighting make taking your gaming library to a friend's dorm effortless for under $300 right now.
    — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Brooklinen’s take on an organic comforter now has more than 1,200 five-star reviews and comes in a lightweight, an all-season, or a heavyweight version.
    — Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of lightweight
Noun
  • Kalshi's counsel will note the number exceeds the entire US gaming industry's annual revenue, which is presumably the point.
    — Zennon Kapron, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2026
  • The same conundrum saw investors punish Alphabet and Tesla, but reward Microsoft and Amazon for accelerating revenue growth and posting blowout backlog numbers this quarter.
    — Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of number

Browse Nearby Words

in secret
insect
insecticide
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Cite this Entry

“Insect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insect. Accessed 9 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on insect

Nglish: Translation of insect for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about insect

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