insects

noun

plural of insect
as in shrimp
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

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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 insects About 50 employees signed off on an email to leadership expressing concerns and providing suggestions, such as evaluating clutter and removing items like pillows that are hotspots for the insects. — Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2026 During dry periods, soil-dwelling bacteria produce a compound called geosmin that deters insects such as fruit flies. — Gregory Wakeman, Scientific American, 1 Oct. 2026 Wolbachia is a genus of bacteria found naturally on many insects. — New Atlas, 1 Oct. 2026 That number has since grown to more than 100,000, and new species of insects, birds and small mammals have started inhabiting the land, according to a update on May’s website marking the 10-year anniversary. — Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 1 Oct. 2026 Monastic Jains filter water, wear cloth masks, and do not eat after dark to avoid ingesting insects. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Sep. 2026 How to Protect Bird Seed From Pests Rodents and insects will get into your bird seed if it isn’t stored properly. — Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 27 Sep. 2026 After Wolf Alice’s high-energy opening set, her pre-show soundtrack was a loop of chirping insects and birds. — Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 26 Sep. 2026 Planted in the fall, these cold-hardy plants work hard to improve soil throughout winter by decreasing compaction, preventing erosion, providing habitat for beneficial insects, and keeping weeds from taking over. — Miranda Crowell, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insects
  1. shrimp
  2. ciphers
  3. lightweights
  4. nobodies
  5. dwarfs
Noun
  • Pour the sauce over and gently toss with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula until the shrimp and avocado are thoroughly coated.
    — Janelle Davis, CNN, 7 Feb. 2023
  • Brine shrimp are a critical food source for the aquaculture industry.
    — Evan Bush, NBC News, 21 Jan. 2023
Definition of shrimp
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
  • Consider a dashboard that shows applications, including keys and libraries; network traffic protocols and ciphers; hardware, such as HSMs and TPMs; and third-party dependencies, including cryptographic or software bills of materials.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Definition of ciphers
Noun
  • Jupiter, by comparison, is as much as 35 times denser than these two lightweights.
    — Marcia Dunn, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2026
  • The card will also feature several other San Diego-area boxers, including super lightweights Daniel Morales (8-0, 5 KOs) and Angel Juan Estrada (12-1-1, 9 KOs).
    — Ivan Carter, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026
Definition of lightweights
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 nobodies
Noun
  • As far as fairytales go, dwarfs can be Bashful, Sleepy, Grumpy or Dopey.
    — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Watching all ten members sing at once is funny the way the seven dwarves all sleeping in their little beds next to each other is funny.
    — Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of dwarfs

Browse Nearby Words

insectivores
insects
insecure
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Insects.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insects. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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