1
as in mermaids
a mythical goddess represented as a young girl and said to live outdoors
she bought the book of fairy tales for the beautiful engravings of nymphs and fairies featured between the stories
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2
3
as in girls
a female person who has not yet reached adulthood
the neighborhood nymphs were gathered at the local pizza parlor
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Recent Examples of nymphs
As part of this act of atonement, four bulls and four heifers are slaughtered at the sanctuaries of the nymphs, and their bodies are left in a grove.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 Apr. 2026
The eggs hatch in spring (typically March to May) and nymphs begin feeding on plants.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 1 Apr. 2026
Testing showed that bacteria that causes Lyme disease was highest in adult female ticks from Fairfield County, with around 68% positive, and in nymphs from New Haven County, with around 32% positive for the virus, according to CAES.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 25 Mar. 2026
Lanternfly nymphs start hatching in April and grow through four nymph stages before emerging as adults in late June.
—Chad Murphy, Cincinnati Enquirer, 17 Feb. 2026
The females give birth to nymphs without mating, and these nymphs rapidly mature into adults (in about 10 days).
—Jon Vanzile, The Spruce, 30 Jan. 2026
One dying cockroach was found on the floor near the soup area and three dead nymphs on the glue board between the two-compartment sink and the ware washing machine.
—Sacbee.com, 16 Jan. 2026
While adult females can live for up to 100 days, most damage is inflicted by the youngest nymphs, which feed on plant sap and inject toxic saliva that causes grass to yellow, weaken, and die.
—Associate News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
Crafted by different species, the colonies were built by grass-cutting termites who added saliva, feces, and sand to construct palaces for their king, queen, nymphs, workers and soldiers.
—Norma Meyer, Oc Register, 26 Nov. 2025
Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 Apr. 2026
The eggs hatch in spring (typically March to May) and nymphs begin feeding on plants.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 1 Apr. 2026
Testing showed that bacteria that causes Lyme disease was highest in adult female ticks from Fairfield County, with around 68% positive, and in nymphs from New Haven County, with around 32% positive for the virus, according to CAES.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 25 Mar. 2026
Lanternfly nymphs start hatching in April and grow through four nymph stages before emerging as adults in late June.
—Chad Murphy, Cincinnati Enquirer, 17 Feb. 2026
The females give birth to nymphs without mating, and these nymphs rapidly mature into adults (in about 10 days).
—Jon Vanzile, The Spruce, 30 Jan. 2026
One dying cockroach was found on the floor near the soup area and three dead nymphs on the glue board between the two-compartment sink and the ware washing machine.
—Sacbee.com, 16 Jan. 2026
While adult females can live for up to 100 days, most damage is inflicted by the youngest nymphs, which feed on plant sap and inject toxic saliva that causes grass to yellow, weaken, and die.
—Associate News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
Crafted by different species, the colonies were built by grass-cutting termites who added saliva, feces, and sand to construct palaces for their king, queen, nymphs, workers and soldiers.
—Norma Meyer, Oc Register, 26 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nymphs
Noun
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An artist airbrushed tattoos of mermaids and butterflies on torsos and biceps.—
Deborah Sengupta Stith,
Austin American Statesman,
17 Mar. 2026
-
The event also showcases comedy knife-throwing acts, storytelling mermaids, a mud show and new themes each weekend, according to the festival's description on 10Best.—
Bebe Hodges,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The problem with that is that changing your life, and really believing, is so much harder than, for example, smoking weed and dancing with girls at a party.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
13 Apr. 2026
-
This week's hearing, which could produce the most extensive public comment from the all-girls Christian camp's operators, comes amid their application for a state license to reopen Camp Mystic this summer on a part of campus that did not flood.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
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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
Noun
-
The Kentucky Oaks, a slightly shorter race exclusively for fillies on the Friday before the Kentucky Derby, will air in primetime this year in an attempt to draw more viewers.—
Lev Akabas,
Sportico.com,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Baffert also has two fillies in Saturday’s Grade 2 Santa Anita Oaks, Forced Entry (4-1) and French Blue (5-1), as does Michael McCarthy, who won last year’s Santa Anita Derby with Journalism.—
Jay Posner,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nymphs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nymphs. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
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