1
as in nymph
a mythical goddess represented as a young girl and said to live outdoors
in Greek mythology, naiads supposedly drowned the young men with whom they became enamored
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of naiad
Today, the naiads frolic in water that is periodically drained for cleaning and maintenance.
—
David Laskin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 June 2024
And now, as played with fierce physicality and grueling commitment by Annette Bening, Diana is a movie character: an impossible person who achieved the impossible, a naiad whose truer mythological counterpart might be Narcissus.
—Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2023
Leighton set his youthful figure — a classical nymph or naiad — in a Mediterranean setting.
—Washington Post, 12 Oct. 2022
The lovely Arcadia region, lush with cypress, poplar, and olive groves, bears traces of the virgin wilderness where nymphs, naiads, and the horned god Pan once frolicked.
—Thomas Linkel, National Geographic, 18 July 2019
David Laskin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 June 2024
And now, as played with fierce physicality and grueling commitment by Annette Bening, Diana is a movie character: an impossible person who achieved the impossible, a naiad whose truer mythological counterpart might be Narcissus.
—Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2023
Leighton set his youthful figure — a classical nymph or naiad — in a Mediterranean setting.
—Washington Post, 12 Oct. 2022
The lovely Arcadia region, lush with cypress, poplar, and olive groves, bears traces of the virgin wilderness where nymphs, naiads, and the horned god Pan once frolicked.
—Thomas Linkel, National Geographic, 18 July 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for naiad
Noun
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Many of the old stories feature vilas, nymphs or fairies of the forests and mountains.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Oct. 2025
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Inspectors spotted two live German cockroach nymphs at a storage cabinet above a two-compartment sink and a live adult roach on the floor near the ice machine.—
Sarah Linn,
Sacbee.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The zooids start as a single larva floating in the water among the plankton.—
Ashley Mackin Solomon,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Oct. 2025
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The parasite, a larva of the Cochliomyia hominivorax fly, attacks warm-blooded animals, including humans.—
Peter Burke,
FOXNews.com,
24 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The satin ensemble featured a cleavage-baring open neckline, short sleeves and a waist-cinching bodice that cascaded into a mermaid skirt.—
Catherine Santino,
PEOPLE,
24 Oct. 2025
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Bronze mermaids, floating fish, and a large octopus sculpture by Damien Hirst look down on diners in the dining room.—
Sara Liss,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
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In Ovid’s version of the story, after cutting down a sacred oak, Erysichthon is cursed with insatiable hunger by the dryad nymph who inhabited it.—
Ellen Walker,
JSTOR Daily,
3 Sep. 2025
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Having regained his health, Geralt heads off with Jaskier and the dryad Milva to find Ciri, following a little skirmish with some power-mad guards.—
Nick Romano,
EW.com,
27 July 2023
Cite this Entry
“Naiad.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/naiad. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
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