tardigrade
noun
tar·di·grade
ˈtär-də-ˌgrād 
: any of a phylum (Tardigrada) of microscopic invertebrates with four pairs of stout legs that live usually in water or damp moss
called also water bear
Examples of tardigrade in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
These microbial ecosystems can support larger organisms, such as tardigrades and insect larvae.
—
Katherine Bourzac, Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
But most tardigrades are microscopic Earthlings, in fact.
—Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 3 July 2025
View gallery - 5 images A platinum fiddle that's just 35 microns in length and 13 microns in width is believed to be the world's smallest violin, measuring just a fraction of a tardigrade or the diameter of an average human hair.
—New Atlas, 4 June 2025
Once cooled, the tardigrades were coated with vaporized anisole, creating an ice layer.
—ArsTechnica, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tardigrade
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.
Katherine Bourzac, Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
But most tardigrades are microscopic Earthlings, in fact.
—Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 3 July 2025
View gallery - 5 images A platinum fiddle that's just 35 microns in length and 13 microns in width is believed to be the world's smallest violin, measuring just a fraction of a tardigrade or the diameter of an average human hair.
—New Atlas, 4 June 2025
Once cooled, the tardigrades were coated with vaporized anisole, creating an ice layer.
—ArsTechnica, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tardigrade
Cite this Entry
“Tardigrade.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tardigrade. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share