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
Water levels had risen higher than expected, leaving the cyclist stranded halfway across the river — clinging to reeds with their bike as the current moved around them.
—
Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 8 Apr. 2026
Graziose kept a photo of the quartet in which Griffin looks reed-thin and sports bangs.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 31 Mar. 2026
Exhibits over the years have showcased a heady array of musical instruments and equipment, from guitars, pianos, accordions and reed instruments to synthesizers, theremins, foot pedals, a Harpejji (a 24-string cross between a piano and a guitar) and much more.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Mar. 2026
At the same time, Utah is working to remove a nonnative reed called phragmites, which is growing on the lake surface and sucking down twice as much water as native plants.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 7 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reed
Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 8 Apr. 2026
Graziose kept a photo of the quartet in which Griffin looks reed-thin and sports bangs.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 31 Mar. 2026
Exhibits over the years have showcased a heady array of musical instruments and equipment, from guitars, pianos, accordions and reed instruments to synthesizers, theremins, foot pedals, a Harpejji (a 24-string cross between a piano and a guitar) and much more.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Mar. 2026
At the same time, Utah is working to remove a nonnative reed called phragmites, which is growing on the lake surface and sucking down twice as much water as native plants.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 7 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reed
Noun
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And, in a way, this coward is the only sane one.—
Jordan Hoffman,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 May 2026
-
These are American cowards that are rooting against our Country.—
Khaled Wassef,
CBS News,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
National Aquarium cams The National Aquarium in Baltimore, Maryland, operates a series of cameras of marine animals, including reef sharks, jellyfish and fish in a Pacific coral reef.—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
1 June 2026
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While the immortal jellyfish evokes our wonder and curiosity, the deep sea and its creatures can often stir a deep, primal fear in us.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
Noun
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Since 1980, her partner had been the kindly, worshipful Dutch actor Robert Wolders, whom Ferrer likens to a gentlemanly doormat.—
Hadley Hall Meares,
Vanity Fair,
15 May 2026
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That’s worked out pretty well for Vandy so far, as the Commodores went from Southeastern Conference doormat to playing for a spot in last year’s College Football Playoff.—
PJ Green,
Kansas City Star,
8 May 2026
Noun
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Over the decades, there has been no shortage of sites using clever techniques to covertly track visitors’ browsing histories, device fingerprints, and log keystrokes and mouse movements in real time.—
Dan Goodin,
ArsTechnica,
27 May 2026
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Built For Long Days The Logitech M850 L mouse is the first of its type to include a soft and padded area that functions as a palm cushion.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
Noun
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Bighorn sheep, elk, and pronghorn can also be spotted here.—
Julia Sayers Gokhale,
Midwest Living,
1 June 2026
-
Just hundreds of sheep clinging to the grassy slopes.—
Lori Rackl,
Boston Herald,
31 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Reed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reed. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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