REED Synonyms: 18 Similar and Opposite Words

reed

noun

ˈrēd

Definition of reed

as in coward

a person without strength of character the congresswoman is but a reed who bends whichever way the political winds are blowing

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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 reed Years of restoration work has helped create wet grassland, open pools and reed beds that provide ideal foraging and nesting conditions. — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 29 July 2026 Across the street, the Llano River splashes its way over limestone formations and into reed thickets. — Pam Leblanc, Southern Living, 20 July 2026 Just water, the tips of reeds, a floating mat of palmetto thatching that might have been someone’s roof. — Literary Hub, 16 July 2026 In the absence of any significant demonstration of integrity or independence, this is a slender reed on which to rest a distinction. — Quinta Jurecic, The Atlantic, 16 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for reed

Recent Examples of Synonyms for reed

Noun

But Coyote has hitched his hopes for the mammoth case upon a man who could only be called a coward.

— Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
The pundits feasted on her neutrality, most venomously Megyn Kelly, who called her a coward.

— Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of coward

Noun

The breakthrough clue was its cnidocysts, specialized cells found in invertebrates such as jellyfish and corals that contain their stinging bits.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 25 Aug. 2026
Guides teach people about the role jellyfish play in marine ecosystems and the importance of protecting them.

— CBS News, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of jellyfish

Noun

Reuters said March and April reports of impending layoffs and Meta tracking employees’ keyboard and mouse input in order to train AI agents (Meta has since paused the program) hurt employee morale.

— Scharon Harding, ArsTechnica, 26 Aug. 2026
With more than two decades of professional experience, Terry Guido has built a notable career in image analysis of mouse models with Alzheimer’s-like pathology.

— Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of mouse

Noun

The shepherd’s rod and staff, tools used in tending and protecting sheep, reinforce the sense of security.

— Frannie Comstock, Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 Aug. 2026
Some herders moved 100 miles (about 160 kilometers) with their cattle in search of water and grazing land; others stayed closer to home with sheep and goats.

— Anne Pisor, The Conversation, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of sheep

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reechos

reed

reedified

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“Reed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reed. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of reed

noun

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