as in coward
a person without strength of character
the congresswoman is but a reed who bends whichever way the political winds are blowing
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of reed
Post-Digital Sax A cyborg woodwind that merges a real vibrating reed with a digital brain.
—
Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 21 Jan. 2026
Along the banks, the giants of Amazonia, the sentinel royal palms and the colossal domed kapoks, rose above a confusion of trunks, reeds, and trailing vines.
—Stanley Stewart, Travel + Leisure, 10 Jan. 2026
Tule reeds that grows in the yard in preparation of basket weaving.
—Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
The Lego set includes a posable head and claws, buildable reed and water display stand, and a fish that can be placed in the bird’s beak.
—Mia Huelsbeck, PEOPLE, 26 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reed
Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 21 Jan. 2026
Along the banks, the giants of Amazonia, the sentinel royal palms and the colossal domed kapoks, rose above a confusion of trunks, reeds, and trailing vines.
—Stanley Stewart, Travel + Leisure, 10 Jan. 2026
Tule reeds that grows in the yard in preparation of basket weaving.
—Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
The Lego set includes a posable head and claws, buildable reed and water display stand, and a fish that can be placed in the bird’s beak.
—Mia Huelsbeck, PEOPLE, 26 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reed
Noun
-
Please do not take the coward’s way.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
31 Jan. 2026
-
And Trump calls ’em almost like cowards.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
While the design here is emphatically traditional, a dose of modern whimsy comes through with a dangling, multi-floor chandelier loosely inspired by jellyfish.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
6 Feb. 2026
-
The team also documented an extremely rare phantom jellyfish (Stygiomedusa gigantea), which is known to grow as long as a school bus.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Many use their house name or logo on little keepsakes like custom matchboxes and those fan-favorite frosted plastic cups as well as welcome elements like the doormat, Tervis tumblers, and linens.—
Cameron Beall,
Southern Living,
14 Feb. 2026
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According to cleaning expert Tanu Grewal, there are two key reasons to clean your doormat.—
Ashley Chalmers,
The Spruce,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The research, published in the journal Cell, used mouse models to explore how the biological changes associated with cancer may affect the progression of the most common dementia type.—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
3 Feb. 2026
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Primer extension experiments using mouse macrophage RNA indicated a single transcriptional initiation site.—
Kirstin R.W. Matthews,
STAT,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The Beyem Seo pack killed more than 92 calves and sheep in just over six months, ranging close to ranches, homes and schools and terrifying local families.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
6 Feb. 2026
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The spotlight, however, seems fixated on Estelle Manor, which technically resides in a region where there’s more sheep than people.—
Elise Taylor,
Vanity Fair,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Reed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reed. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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