1
as in nymph
a mythical goddess represented as a young girl and said to live outdoors
in Greek mythology, naiads supposedly drowned the young men with whom they became enamored
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of naiad
Today, the naiads frolic in water that is periodically drained for cleaning and maintenance.
—
David Laskin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 June 2024
And now, as played with fierce physicality and grueling commitment by Annette Bening, Diana is a movie character: an impossible person who achieved the impossible, a naiad whose truer mythological counterpart might be Narcissus.
—Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2023
Leighton set his youthful figure — a classical nymph or naiad — in a Mediterranean setting.
—Washington Post, 12 Oct. 2022
The lovely Arcadia region, lush with cypress, poplar, and olive groves, bears traces of the virgin wilderness where nymphs, naiads, and the horned god Pan once frolicked.
—Thomas Linkel, National Geographic, 18 July 2019
David Laskin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 June 2024
And now, as played with fierce physicality and grueling commitment by Annette Bening, Diana is a movie character: an impossible person who achieved the impossible, a naiad whose truer mythological counterpart might be Narcissus.
—Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2023
Leighton set his youthful figure — a classical nymph or naiad — in a Mediterranean setting.
—Washington Post, 12 Oct. 2022
The lovely Arcadia region, lush with cypress, poplar, and olive groves, bears traces of the virgin wilderness where nymphs, naiads, and the horned god Pan once frolicked.
—Thomas Linkel, National Geographic, 18 July 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for naiad
Noun
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In Greek mythology, Daphne was a nymph who turned into a laurel tree.—
Ryan Brennan,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 Jan. 2025
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The body louse life cycle starts as an egg (nit), develops to a nymph, and finally becomes an adult louse.—
Josephine Hessert,
Verywell Health,
2 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Ophiocordyceps sinensis fungus is a parasite that targets the caterpillar that is the larva of the ghost moth.—
Daile Zhang,
The Conversation,
14 Jan. 2025
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The worm is the larva of a metallic blue-green fly that spends the early part of its life cycle devouring the living flesh of mammals.—
Geraldine Castro,
WIRED,
4 Dec. 2024
Noun
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In body and scowl, Paquita radiated like the Disney villain Ursula — a character also inspired by a drag queen, famed actor and performer Divine — but in spirit and heart was far from the sea-dwelling witch who stole an innocent mermaid’s voice.—
Alex Zaragoza,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Feb. 2025
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The mermaids are back at Camden's Adventure Aquarium.—
Isaac Avilucea,
Axios,
20 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Having regained his health, Geralt heads off with Jaskier and the dryad Milva to find Ciri, following a little skirmish with some power-mad guards.—
Nick Romano,
EW.com,
27 July 2023
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Merlin and Cosmo are both in their 30s, with dark curly hair and similarly rangy builds, though Merlin’s face is more delicate, as though a distant ancestor might have been part elf or dryad.—
Jennifer Kahn,
New York Times,
8 June 2023
Cite this Entry
“Naiad.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/naiad. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
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