kobold

noun

ˈkō-ˌbȯld How to pronounce kobold (audio)
Definition of koboldnext
as in elf
an imaginary being usually having a small human form and magical powers the metal cobalt gets its name from the medieval Germanic belief that its appearance in silver ore was the handiwork of mischievous, thieving kobolds

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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 kobold Monster Vault allows the designers to take a crack at some classic creatures like kobolds, goblins, demons and dragons. — Rob Wieland, Forbes, 18 Sep. 2024 This element takes its name from the German word kobelt, signifying kobolds—gnomes and goblins thought to haunt mines. — Sanjana Curtis, Scientific American, 4 July 2023 The word cobalt comes from the German word kobold, meaning goblin. — Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, 18 Aug. 2022 Otherworldly cities modeled on real ones have been a standby of fantasy, from Superman’s Metropolis through China Miéville’s Un Lun Dun to Michael Swanwick’s Babel, with its haints and kobolds, ethnic politics and human ward-heelers. — Tom Shippey, WSJ, 16 Mar. 2018 See All Example Sentences for kobold
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kobold
  1. elf
  2. fairy
  3. goblin
  4. dwarf
Noun
  • Reading allows children to live in a vibrant world, surrounded by fairies, elves and talking animals, transporting them to places where the impossible becomes real.
    — Michelle Kearney, The Conversation, 7 July 2026
  • Ferrell starred as Buddy in the 2003 Christmas classic, which focused on a human adopted by elves and raised as an elf in the North Pole until one day, as an adult, discovering his true identity.
    — Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026
Definition of elf
Noun
  • Disney made its name on the back of fairy and folktales, retelling centuries-old stories and giving them a fresh new spin for modern audiences.
    — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 24 July 2026
  • Decapitated, the fairy of Smoking with Oneself (2021–26) puffs a cigarette from the gaping red maw of her throat.
    — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 15 July 2026
Definition of fairy
Noun
  • Two years ago, the Man City phenom appeared in a 90-second spot for the game that saw him get recruited to storm a castle teeming with goblins, dragons and impish skeletons.
    — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 26 June 2026
  • Follow the babe with the power into Jim Henson’s gloriously weird fantasy wonderland, where goblins sing, doors argue, and David Bowie’s Goblin King serves enough glam-rock charisma to power an entire kingdom.
    — Arushi Jacob, Variety, 24 June 2026
Definition of goblin
Noun
  • Norse mythology reinforced this tradition through the story of Fafnir, a dwarf transformed into a dragon by his overwhelming greed for a cursed hoard of gold.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 July 2026
  • All fir trees are useful to birds, and some are available in dwarf form for smaller gardens.
    — Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 July 2026
Definition of dwarf

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Cite this Entry

“Kobold.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kobold. Accessed 26 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on kobold

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about kobold

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