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 When he is held captive by the nymph Calypso, Athena persuades Zeus to secure Odysseus’s release. — Gitanjali Roy, Encyclopedia Britannica, 12 June 2026 Larger members of the minnow family, such as creek chub, can be caught on small dry flies or nymphs with a 3-weight fly rod and size 14 Humpy and Woolly Worm patterns. — Chad Mason, Outdoor Life, 3 June 2026 Achilles discovered among the Daughters of Lycomedes depicts a Greek mythological scene during the Trojan War in which the hero Achilles has been hidden by his mother, the sea nymph Thetis, on the island of Skyros. — Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 2 July 2026 Seven different looks rotate throughout the World Cup season, each one conceived by designer Ricardo Zuccolini, with Diana Dubinsky and her team at Wynwood studio’s DesignLab22 swathing the sea nymphs in capes inspired by FIFA teams’ country colors. — Lilian Raji, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for nymph
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nymph
  1. mermaid
  2. larva
  3. girl
  4. dryad
Noun
  • Her bodycon mermaid skirt was covered in diagonal rows of slits, exposing glimpses of her legs, hips, and butt.
    — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 1 July 2026
  • Fallon held up a 25-year-old photo of the actress and producer — who originally portrayed Elle Woods — rocking a spaghetti-strap pink fishnet mermaid dress.
    — Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026
Definition of mermaid
Noun
  • Look in curled leaves that often contain webs with the larva stages — often called worms.
    — Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 June 2026
  • There are no insecticides that will control the larva of this inconspicuous grayish-brown moth.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 17 June 2026
Definition of larva
Noun
  • Beyond their cool-girl air, the shoes offer plenty of support and cushioning thanks to their plush insoles that keep your arches comfortable for hours of strutting.
    — Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 7 July 2026
  • On the surface, the Supreme Court’s June 30 opinion upholding state laws barring transgender girls from women’s and girl’s sports teams looks like a victory for women’s rights.
    — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
Definition of girl
Noun
  • In Ovid’s version of the story, after cutting down a sacred oak, Erysichthon is cursed with insatiable hunger by the dryad nymph who inhabited it.
    — Ellen Walker, JSTOR Daily, 3 Sep. 2025
  • 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
Definition of dryad

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 Jul. 2026.

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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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