larva

noun

ˈlär-və How to pronounce larva (audio)
Definition of larvanext
as in nymph
a young wingless often wormlike form (as a grub or caterpillar) that hatches from the egg of many insects the larva looked ugly, but it was destined to hatch into a beautiful butterfly

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 larva Screwworms are actually a type of maggot, or larva. — Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 11 June 2026 White larva may also be visible within the skin lesions, Hohenhaus said. — Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 11 June 2026 The screwworm is actually a fly larva that eats living flesh instead of dead material. — Jeffrey Collins, Fortune, 9 June 2026 The larva will hatch and eat the paralyzed cicada. — Pamm Cooper, Hartford Courant, 9 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for larva
Recent Examples of Synonyms for larva
nymph
Noun
  • Deer ticks, for example, can range from the size of a pinhead as larvae to a poppy seed in the nymph stage, to a sesame seed as adults.
    — Amanda Roome, The Conversation, 16 July 2026
  • Even the idyllic island on which the nymph Calypso (Charlize Theron) is keeping an amnesiac Odysseus when the film begins is depicted as a windswept sandbar that looks in danger of being washed away by a strong-enough storm.
    — Alison Willmore, Vulture, 15 July 2026
Definition of nymph

Browse Nearby Words

larrups
larva
larvae
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Cite this Entry

“Larva.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/larva. Accessed 19 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on larva

Nglish: Translation of larva for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about larva

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