Illustration of nene
: an endangered goose (Branta sandvicensis synonym Nesochen sandvicensis) of the Hawaiian Islands that usually inhabits waterless uplands and feeds on berries and vegetation
Examples of nene in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Swan shows up every late afternoon with water and kibble, and says she’s never seen a nene anywhere near the dump.
—
Jennifer Sinco Kelleher, Fortune, 27 Dec. 2025
Spelling Bee: entente, nice, citizen, nene, civet, intent, vein, tent, invent, invite, innie, nine, entice, vice, evict
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Further Reading
The New York Times Games team is now on Instagram.
—New York Times Games, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2025
Captive breeding and reintroduction efforts succeeded, and nearly 4,000 nene live in Hawaii today.
—Maddie Bender, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Jan. 2025
Along with Pele’s hair, park officials warned visitors to stay on trails, drive with caution, be prepared for crowds, and steer clear of nene, or native Hawaiian geese.
—Sara Schilling, Sacramento Bee, 28 Jan. 2025
Nighttime visitors, who get to see the lava glow against the dark sky, should be especially careful of the unstable cliff edges and treacherous terrain by driving slowly and keeping an eye out for pedestrians and nene, the Hawaiian goose, the park said.
—Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY, 27 Dec. 2024
On Maui, sit above the clouds and watch the sunrise at 10,000 feet atop Haleakalā, a sacred site and dormant volcano that covers more than 75 percent of the island and is home to 100-plus endangered species, including Hawaii’s state bird, the nene.
—Sunny Fitzgerald, Travel + Leisure, 18 Feb. 2023
The nene is Hawaii’s official state bird.
—Dan Fellner, The Arizona Republic, 2 Feb. 2022
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Jennifer Sinco Kelleher, Fortune, 27 Dec. 2025
Spelling Bee: entente, nice, citizen, nene, civet, intent, vein, tent, invent, invite, innie, nine, entice, vice, evict
Read full comment
Further Reading
The New York Times Games team is now on Instagram.
—New York Times Games, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2025
Captive breeding and reintroduction efforts succeeded, and nearly 4,000 nene live in Hawaii today.
—Maddie Bender, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Jan. 2025
Along with Pele’s hair, park officials warned visitors to stay on trails, drive with caution, be prepared for crowds, and steer clear of nene, or native Hawaiian geese.
—Sara Schilling, Sacramento Bee, 28 Jan. 2025
Nighttime visitors, who get to see the lava glow against the dark sky, should be especially careful of the unstable cliff edges and treacherous terrain by driving slowly and keeping an eye out for pedestrians and nene, the Hawaiian goose, the park said.
—Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY, 27 Dec. 2024
On Maui, sit above the clouds and watch the sunrise at 10,000 feet atop Haleakalā, a sacred site and dormant volcano that covers more than 75 percent of the island and is home to 100-plus endangered species, including Hawaii’s state bird, the nene.
—Sunny Fitzgerald, Travel + Leisure, 18 Feb. 2023
The nene is Hawaii’s official state bird.
—Dan Fellner, The Arizona Republic, 2 Feb. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Nene.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nene. Accessed 2 Jan. 2026.
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