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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These eggs take approximately six to ten weeks to hatch, releasing cicada nymphs that burrow into the soil and latch onto tree roots.—
Marley Malenfant,
Austin American Statesman,
2 July 2025
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Periodical cicadas, found only in eastern North America, live underground as nymphs for either 13 or 17 years before emerging above ground in massive numbers.—
Chad Murphy,
The Enquirer,
2 July 2025
Noun
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New World screwworms are the parasitic larva of a metallic blue blow fly species called Cochliomyia hominivorax.—
Kameryn Griesser,
CNN Money,
9 July 2025
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The larva will soon be done feeding, or may have already left the leaf, having matured into an adult that flew away.—
Miri Talabac,
Baltimore Sun,
8 May 2025
Noun
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The attraction is famous for introducing the world to mermaids via a variety show that includes performers swimming and dancing underwater in the country’s deepest natural spring.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
4 July 2025
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Mermaids Cove has returned as an interactive event where guests can meet performers dressed as mermaids and touch a stingray.—
Noreen Kompanik,
Boston Herald,
8 June 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 22 Jul. 2025.
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