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
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
Signs of an infestation include fecal stains (black or rusty-looking spots) on fabrics, shed skins, or the adult bugs, which are oval, flat, reddish-brown and about 3/16-inch long or nymphs, which are yellowish and transparent, says Oi.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 25 Dec. 2025
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
After seemingly every cast, my dry-dropper rig was a bird’s nest of monofilament and pheasant tail nymphs.
—Robert Annis, Outside, 22 Nov. 2025
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
Signs of an infestation include fecal stains (black or rusty-looking spots) on fabrics, shed skins, or the adult bugs, which are oval, flat, reddish-brown and about 3/16-inch long or nymphs, which are yellowish and transparent, says Oi.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 25 Dec. 2025
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
After seemingly every cast, my dry-dropper rig was a bird’s nest of monofilament and pheasant tail nymphs.
—Robert Annis, Outside, 22 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nymphs
Noun
-
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
-
Keller girls basketball coach Kate Goldberg shared a moment with her former star before the game and previously had gushed about her work ethic and mentality.—
Lawrence Dow,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
31 Mar. 2026
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Her whirlwind rise to stardom marked a turning point for a generation of Black girls, seeing a face like theirs on screen.—
Taijuan Moorman,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 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
-
Thurby, a celebration of Kentucky’s heritage featuring live entertainment; and the Kentucky Oaks, a race for 3-year-old fillies (female horses).—
Chase Jordan
February 13,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Sunday finale Brown is seeking his seventh Matriarch win in nine years Sunday in the one-mile turf test for older fillies and mares.—
Bill Center,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nymphs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nymphs. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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