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
Spiders As other insects come out for spring, spiders also naturally return to explore their hunting grounds.
—
Caden Perry, jsonline.com, 24 Mar. 2026
High Priority - Live, small flying insects found.
—Staff Reports, Florida Times-Union, 24 Mar. 2026
Now, researchers have built a system that keeps working even after losing half its sensing ability, inspired by how insects navigate.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 23 Mar. 2026
Aggressive turning or tilling harms microorganisms, kills beneficial insects and earthworms, increases erosion, removes air pockets, releases carbon into the atmosphere and brings dormant weed seeds to the surface, where conditions are perfect for their growth.
—ABC News, 23 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for insect
Caden Perry, jsonline.com, 24 Mar. 2026
High Priority - Live, small flying insects found.
—Staff Reports, Florida Times-Union, 24 Mar. 2026
Now, researchers have built a system that keeps working even after losing half its sensing ability, inspired by how insects navigate.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 23 Mar. 2026
Aggressive turning or tilling harms microorganisms, kills beneficial insects and earthworms, increases erosion, removes air pockets, releases carbon into the atmosphere and brings dormant weed seeds to the surface, where conditions are perfect for their growth.
—ABC News, 23 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for insect
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insect
Noun
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The Dodgers’ $850-million annual revenue dwarfs competitors like the Diamondbacks at $324 million, exemplifying the financial gulf driving owners’ desire for cost controls.—
Bill Shaikin,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Mar. 2026
-
In a new study published on Monday in the Astrophysical Journal, researchers used computers to simulate the two dwarf galaxies’ 100-million-year-long collision.—
Joseph Howlett,
Scientific American,
19 Mar. 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
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Seattle’s John Schneider and New England’s Eliot Wolf rose up from young nobodies to graduate from Green Bay Packers University, too.—
Dave Hyde,
Sun Sentinel,
7 Feb. 2026
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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
Noun
-
Stay on top of your health and fitness with this lightweight, wristband-style tracker.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Mar. 2026
-
These towels are ultra-thin, sand-free microfiber essentials that shake clean instantly, dry three times faster than cotton, and fold down lightweight and compact for the ultimate travel-ready getaway.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
To be a K-pop fan is to watch the numbers.—
Mitch Therieau,
New Yorker,
27 Mar. 2026
-
The infant mortality rate, the number of babies who die before their first birthday, decreased to 5 deaths per 1,000 births from 2021-2023, according to the report.—
Briah Lumpkins,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Insect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insect. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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