naiads

noun

variants or naiades
plural of naiad
1
as in nymphs
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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2
as in larvae
a young wingless often wormlike form (as a grub or caterpillar) that hatches from the egg of many insects students in science class learning how to distinguish a dragonfly naiad from an earthworm

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for naiads
  1. nymphs
  2. mermaids
  3. dryads
Noun
  • The sculptor Berthold Nebel left his mark across Manhattan, from the sea nymphs in the ceilings of the old Cunard Building at the foot of Broadway to the limestone reliefs at the Hispanic Society up on 155th Street.
    — Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 30 July 2026
  • The thick mats cover up the rocky streambed where invertebrates like mayfly nymphs like to live, and instead creates habitats for smaller insects, chironomids and worms.
    — Hannah Smith July 25, Idaho Statesman, 25 July 2026
Definition of nymphs
Noun
  • Some reactionaries will always find a reason to demand all-white entertainment, regardless of whether there are mermaids, hobbits, or lightsabers involved.
    — Adam Serwer, The Atlantic, 24 July 2026
  • Mother-of-pearl naturally reflects light and evokes images of mermaids, beaches, and the ocean floor.
    — Selene Oliva, Glamour, 18 July 2026
Definition of mermaids
Noun
  • In the final novel of the series, The Last Battle, the destruction of trees and dryads in Lantern Waste, a place tied to the creation of Narnia itself, is one of many portentous omens signalling the end of the world.
    — Ellen Walker, JSTOR Daily, 3 Sep. 2025
Definition of dryads
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.

Browse Nearby Words

naiad
naiads
naïf
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Cite this Entry

“Naiads.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/naiads. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of naiads for Spanish Speakers

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