as in coward
a person without strength of character
the congresswoman is but a reed who bends whichever way the political winds are blowing
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of reed
Rattan is a material used in wicker weaving, as are bamboo, willow, reed, and synthetic materials such as resin and plastic.
—
Gabi De La Rosa, Southern Living, 27 Feb. 2026
The taller reed grass there is a dangerous fuel.
—Alan Gionet, CBS News, 26 Feb. 2026
For those concerned about sensitivity, passive scent methods such as reed diffusers, including options from B’s Knees, Nest or Hotel Collection, and cold-air diffusion systems like those from Aroma360 offer lighter ways to fragrance a space.
—Allison Hatfield, Dallas Morning News, 25 Feb. 2026
The protagonist is a nine-year-old girl named Lamia (Baneen Ahmad Nayyef), who lives with her grandmother (Waheed Thabet Khreibat), in a mudhif, a house of twisted reeds, in Iraq’s southern marshlands.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reed
Gabi De La Rosa, Southern Living, 27 Feb. 2026
The taller reed grass there is a dangerous fuel.
—Alan Gionet, CBS News, 26 Feb. 2026
For those concerned about sensitivity, passive scent methods such as reed diffusers, including options from B’s Knees, Nest or Hotel Collection, and cold-air diffusion systems like those from Aroma360 offer lighter ways to fragrance a space.
—Allison Hatfield, Dallas Morning News, 25 Feb. 2026
The protagonist is a nine-year-old girl named Lamia (Baneen Ahmad Nayyef), who lives with her grandmother (Waheed Thabet Khreibat), in a mudhif, a house of twisted reeds, in Iraq’s southern marshlands.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reed
Noun
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John Cornyn is a coward who has refused to support abolishing the filibuster to pass this bill.—
Jack Fink,
CBS News,
8 Mar. 2026
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John Cornyn is a coward who has refused to support abolishing the filibuster to pass this bill.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Astrophotographer Ogetay Kayali has captured a nebula resembling a jellyfish — or possibly a brain, depending on your perspective — shining 5,000 light-years from Earth near the bright star Propus, which represents one foot of a mythological twin represented in the constellation Gemini.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
7 Mar. 2026
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The species discovered include ancient relatives of worms, sponges and jellyfish.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Made with durable natural fibers, this 18-inch-by-30-inch, skid-resistant doormat features a cheery floral design and a welcome message.—
Michele Laufik,
Martha Stewart,
25 Feb. 2026
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Being vulnerable doesn’t mean becoming a doormat and letting others walk all over you.—
Barton Goldsmith,
AJC.com,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Ronald was overhauling the Uncut Gems screenplay with Josh at work, then coming home to stare dead-eyed at episodes of Shark Tank at the family’s apartment — which may not have had a Legs-style hole in the ceiling, but which was mouse-infested.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
4 Mar. 2026
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Named Chip, this mouse, and his brother, Dale, were the first two woolly mice produced by Colossal.—
Rob Stein,
NPR,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Tests on rats and sheep show injuries consistent with those seen in humans.—
Scott Pelley,
CBS News,
8 Mar. 2026
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Sable Pass at Mile 39 is a top spot for grizzly bears, caribou, and Dall sheep.—
Karthika Gupta,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Reed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reed. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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