nymph

noun

ˈnim(p)f How to pronounce nymph (audio)
Definition of nymphnext
1
as in mermaid
a mythical goddess represented as a young girl and said to live outdoors she bought the book of fairy tales for the beautiful engravings of nymphs and fairies featured between the stories

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2
as in larva
a young wingless often wormlike form (as a grub or caterpillar) that hatches from the egg of many insects mayfly nymphs

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3
as in girl
a female person who has not yet reached adulthood the neighborhood nymphs were gathered at the local pizza parlor

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of nymph In Greek mythology, Daphne was a nymph who turned into a laurel tree. — Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Jan. 2025 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 Just last month, Percy Jackson also had a presence at San Diego Comic-Con, where it was announced that Daniel Diemer has been cast in Season 2 of the Disney+ series as the lovable Cyclops, who is also Percy’s (Walker Scobell) paternal half brother, the son of Poseidon and a nymph. — Katie Campione, Deadline, 9 Aug. 2024 Once hatched, the nymphs suck plant sap for two to three weeks. — Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 1 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for nymph
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nymph
  1. mermaid
  2. larva
  3. dryad
  4. filly
Noun
  • Here mermaids swim underwater, joined by manatees, turtles, and fish—and visitors can have a front-row seat to it all.
    — Kelsey Glennon, Southern Living, 22 Mar. 2025
  • Mel is unsettled when Hazel opens a birthday card that came in the mail, accompanied by a slightly lascivious drawing of a mermaid.
    — Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 20 Mar. 2025
Definition of mermaid
Noun
  • 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
  • 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
Definition of larva
Noun
  • 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
  • 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
Definition of dryad
Noun
  • The $250,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) is Race 9 Saturday and seven 3-year-old fillies are entered with a pair of favorites expected to decide the race.
    — Jay Ginsbach, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2025
  • Race 11 is the $400,000 Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) for 3-year-old fillies with the same qualifying points awarded towards the May 2 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs.
    — Jay Ginsbach, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025
Definition of filly

Phrases Containing nymph

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nuzzling
nymph
nymphomania
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Cite this Entry

“Nymph.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nymph. Accessed 7 Apr. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on nymph

Nglish: Translation of nymph for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about nymph

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