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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of insect
When a national economic downturn ends up driving farmers from their land, fertile fields and streams — once home to the myriad insects and amphibians consumed by the storks — turn into toxic trash heaps, and the avians also suffer the consequences.
—
Alissa Simon, Variety, 4 Feb. 2026
Pest Control Dealing with unwanted ants in the home or other pesky insects, specifically within your household plants?
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 3 Feb. 2026
Dead insects were found in one of the freezers, salami and Lunchables were held at an unsafe temperature, and boxes of chips were stored on the floor.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Feb. 2026
According to its Chamber of Commerce website, its name is derived from the Lenape Native American word for sand flies, a gnat-like insect that was abundant in the area.
—Doris Alvarez Cea, Florida Times-Union, 2 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for insect
Alissa Simon, Variety, 4 Feb. 2026
Pest Control Dealing with unwanted ants in the home or other pesky insects, specifically within your household plants?
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 3 Feb. 2026
Dead insects were found in one of the freezers, salami and Lunchables were held at an unsafe temperature, and boxes of chips were stored on the floor.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Feb. 2026
According to its Chamber of Commerce website, its name is derived from the Lenape Native American word for sand flies, a gnat-like insect that was abundant in the area.
—Doris Alvarez Cea, Florida Times-Union, 2 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for insect
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insect
Noun
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Hardy in Zones 8a-10b, a dwarf olive grows no more than 15 feet tall.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
3 Feb. 2026
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Look for dwarf pea varieties that don’t necessarily seek extra support and may perform better in containers.—
Samantha Johnson,
Martha Stewart,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Finally, Marilyn is not presented as a cipher to be solved or quarry to be caged.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Jan. 2026
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The Blind Owl is extremely dense, brimming with metaphors and ciphers and symbols.—
Amir Ahmadi Arian,
The Dial,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Seattle’s John Schneider and New England’s Eliot Wolf rose up from young nobodies to graduate from Green Bay Packers University, too.—
Dave Hyde,
Sun Sentinel,
7 Feb. 2026
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Many of Newsom’s critics who breathlessly report on his evil plans (that the left-wing mainstream media supposedly cover up) are just nobodies who feign authority and are obviously fronting for right-wing organizations.—
Dan Walters,
Oc Register,
16 Dec. 2025
Noun
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But an effort to close that loop and manufacture the lightweight, power-enhancing metal that is a primary component in EV batteries at a coastal Georgia facility has stalled out like an EV that’s run out of juice.—
Adam Van Brimmer,
AJC.com,
11 Feb. 2026
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Monte Vista boasts a pair of solid lightweights in Alexa Malinis (100) and Katara Ortiz (105).—
Kevin J. Farmer,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Callella, 42, is accused of using a voice over internet protocol text and call application to surreptitiously reach out to the family, but authorities were able to link the phone number to his email address and, later, his residence, according to the complaint.—
Richard Winton,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
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In 2024, however, the state wildlife commission doubled the number of available tags.—
Kris Millgate,
Outdoor Life,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Insect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insect. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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