insect

noun

ˈin-ˌsekt How to pronounce insect (audio)
Definition of insectnext
as in dwarf
a person of no importance or influence the magazine's editor in chief was notorious for treating staffers as insects, often not even bothering to learn their names

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of insect Cardinals, mockingbirds, robins and blue jays will all forage for dogwood berries and insects. — Karen Hugg, Washington Post, 11 Oct. 2026 The interesting part is that the robot doesn’t actually jump by pushing off with its legs like insects or frogs do. — Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 10 Oct. 2026 Feathers, synthetic hair and translucent organza were worked into exaggerated silhouettes, alongside insect-like décolletés, feline pantaboots, moss-green leather and cheetah-print effects. — Amy Francombe, Vogue, 9 Oct. 2026 Up to 70% of native bee species, including many insects’ cocoons and larvae, nest in the ground. — Manjot Kaur Sidhu, The Conversation, 9 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for insect
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insect
  1. dwarf
  2. cipher
  3. nobody
  4. lightweight
  5. number
Noun
  • While most citrus trees are too large for indoor growing, there are a few small or dwarf varieties of citrus that can be kept indoors year-round in pots.
    — Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 16 Oct. 2026
  • These explosions, known as hypernovas, were first proposed to explain unusual stars in the halo of our galaxy, the Milky Way, and in a neighboring dwarf galaxy.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of dwarf
Noun
  • There’s that vibrancy and, on the other side of the ledger, dead boys, ciphers, unfinished or unfinishable quests.
    — Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
  • But in my view, our relationships to animals, whose lives are untouched by the existential woes and artifices of personhood, are the richest and most evident ciphers for our own often inscrutable psyches.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 June 2026
Definition of cipher
Noun
  • In the trailer, the civilians are selling themselves as a new breed of nobodies.
    — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Despite the tragicomic instability and the rotating cast of nobodies temporarily tasked with running the country, when seen in macroeconomic terms, Peru appears to be doing just fine, thank you.
    — Daniel Alarcón, New Yorker, 4 June 2026
Definition of nobody
Noun
  • Available in six styles—two of which are prescription-ready—each pair features polarized lenses, lightweight frames, noise-cancelling microphones, and open-ear hi-fi audio.
    — Matt Alderton, Time, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The company says its paddings provide the same soft touch and luxurious look, lightweight and silky feel of down stuffing.
    — Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of lightweight
Noun
  • There’s not an exact count of the number of local regulations and ordinances that have been passed since robotaxis have gone mainstream.
    — Andrew Hawkins, The Verge, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Tesla's third-quarter delivery numbers declined 2% from the year prior but nevertheless topped estimates, sending the stock surging.
    — Caleigh Keating, CNBC, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of number

Browse Nearby Words

in secret
insect
insecticide
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Insect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insect. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on insect

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about insect

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of fervid

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All