as in elves
an imaginary being usually having a small human form and magical powers
in Europe, gnomes are thought to guard underground treasure, so that may be why statues of them are commonly placed in gardens
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of gnomes
Lawn Ornaments Too many lawn ornaments, such as gnomes, fairies, dolls, or flamingos, read as tacky to Emily Roose, the founder of Emily Roose Interiors.
—
Sarah Lyon,
The Spruce,
23 June 2026
Move over, pink yard flamingos and garden gnomes—the porch goose is back.
—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
16 May 2026
Although the term might conjure thoughts of minuscule garden gnomes and fairies, the reality is quite the opposite.
—
ABC News,
12 May 2026
The garden gnomes have been another hot seller.
—
Deirdre Bardolf,
FOXNews.com,
11 Apr. 2026
The gnomes have become wildly popular — and increasingly valuable — over the last decade.
—
CBS News,
10 Apr. 2026
Masters gnomes are a hot commodity over fears this is their final year.
—
Jackie Powell,
NBC news,
10 Apr. 2026
There was a blithe, mildly stoned look in everyone’s eyes, and most of the women were dressed like gnomes while all the men appeared ergonomically outfitted to climb a cliff face but were instead commuting to their office jobs.
—
Catherine Lacey,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
With their tiny fences and cottages, a dozen gnomes stood stiff as if at attention yet looked so happy residing on their brook’s muddy banks.
—
Chris John Amorosino,
Hartford Courant,
13 Mar. 2026
Sarah Lyon,
The Spruce,
23 June 2026
Move over, pink yard flamingos and garden gnomes—the porch goose is back.
—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
16 May 2026
Although the term might conjure thoughts of minuscule garden gnomes and fairies, the reality is quite the opposite.
—
ABC News,
12 May 2026
The garden gnomes have been another hot seller.
—
Deirdre Bardolf,
FOXNews.com,
11 Apr. 2026
The gnomes have become wildly popular — and increasingly valuable — over the last decade.
—
CBS News,
10 Apr. 2026
Masters gnomes are a hot commodity over fears this is their final year.
—
Jackie Powell,
NBC news,
10 Apr. 2026
There was a blithe, mildly stoned look in everyone’s eyes, and most of the women were dressed like gnomes while all the men appeared ergonomically outfitted to climb a cliff face but were instead commuting to their office jobs.
—
Catherine Lacey,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
With their tiny fences and cottages, a dozen gnomes stood stiff as if at attention yet looked so happy residing on their brook’s muddy banks.
—
Chris John Amorosino,
Hartford Courant,
13 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gnomes
Noun
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Ferrell starred as Buddy in the 2003 Christmas classic, which focused on a human adopted by elves and raised as an elf in the North Pole until one day, as an adult, discovering his true identity.
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At the end of 2005-2006, a whole host of elves got arrested and were sent to prison.
Noun
-
Lawn Ornaments Too many lawn ornaments, such as gnomes, fairies, dolls, or flamingos, read as tacky to Emily Roose, the founder of Emily Roose Interiors.
-
And creatures — fairies, a faun, the unforgettable Pale Man, with eyes in the palms of his hands — reveal a world of deeper and darker enchantment.
Noun
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Two years ago, the Man City phenom appeared in a 90-second spot for the game that saw him get recruited to storm a castle teeming with goblins, dragons and impish skeletons.
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Follow the babe with the power into Jim Henson’s gloriously weird fantasy wonderland, where goblins sing, doors argue, and David Bowie’s Goblin King serves enough glam-rock charisma to power an entire kingdom.
Noun
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As virality goes, this is not a big number, but the passion that the account has aroused dwarfs its reach.
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Major props to the dwarfs who saw this as a convenient way to score help in the cleaning department.
Noun
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Maeve learns that the legends she was raised on — stories of faeries, kelpies and seelies — are actually true.
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And thank the faeries for that.
Cite this Entry
“Gnomes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gnomes. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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