water bear

noun

: tardigrade

Examples of water bear in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
For those who don’t know, tardigrades are more commonly known as moss piglets or water bears. — Rachel Clark, Twin Cities, 28 Feb. 2024 This time the little water bears did much better, showing only minor ill effects. — Keith Cooper, Space.com, 4 Mar. 2026 But tardigrades, also known as water bears or moss piglets, are among the toughest survivors evolution has ever carved out. — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 19 Apr. 2025 Tardigrades, also known as water bears, are microscopic animals that can survive for years without food or water. — Daniel Oberhaus, WIRED, 5 Aug. 2019 See All Example Sentences for water bear

Word History

First Known Use

1848, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of water bear was in 1848

Rhymes for water bear

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Browse Nearby Words

water bar
water bear
Water Bearer
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Cite this Entry

“Water bear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/water%20bear. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on water bear

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about water bear

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