larvae

noun

variants also larvas
plural of larva
as in nymphs
a young wingless often wormlike form (as a grub or caterpillar) that hatches from the egg of many insects the larva looked ugly, but it was destined to hatch into a beautiful butterfly

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for larvae
nymphs
Noun
  • After the eggs hatch, the young dragonflies, called nymphs, live underwater for at least six months and for up to five years for some species.
    — Olga R. Rodriguez, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Circe, the poem’s speaker, instructs the nymphs in a recipe for cooking pork.
    — Bailey Sincox, The Conversation, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of nymphs
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.

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larva
larvae
lascivious
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Cite this Entry

“Larvae.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/larvae. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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