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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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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After hatching, the immature cicadas or nymphs spend 17 or 13 years underground, feeding on roots, then emerge during the spring and transform into adult cicadas.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
22 June 2025
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Inspectors observed insect droppings and nymphs on the floor of the kitchen.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 June 2025
Noun
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The larva will soon be done feeding, or may have already left the leaf, having matured into an adult that flew away.—
Miri Talabac,
Baltimore Sun,
8 May 2025
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The animal is a large male that may have hitched a ride as a larva in the ballast water of a boat.—
Sarah Kuta,
Smithsonian Magazine,
2 May 2025
Noun
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On the road, Pearce has seen entire families come dressed in matching mermaid outfits and others in tutus.—
Katie Bain,
Billboard,
13 June 2025
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Hough’s pristine ivory look featured a tulle mermaid skirt reminiscent of the kind worn by Marilyn Monroe, Diana Dors and Vera Ellen in the 1940s and ‘50s.—
Oscar Holland,
CNN Money,
9 June 2025
Noun
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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
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Merlin and Cosmo are both in their 30s, with dark curly hair and similarly rangy builds, though Merlin’s face is more delicate, as though a distant ancestor might have been part elf or dryad.—
Jennifer Kahn,
New York Times,
8 June 2023
Cite this Entry
“Naiad.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/naiad. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
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