as in protrudes
to extend outward beyond a usual point
houses in the town commonly have second stories that beetle over the ground floors, and the overhang is known as a "bump"
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Recent Examples of beetles
Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 16 Apr. 2026
What are Asian lady beetles Harmonia axyridis, also known as the Asian lady beetle, is a relatively new arrival to this country.
—Jordan Green, Nashville Tennessean, 19 Sep. 2025
Noun
These small beetles are sometimes confused with ladybeetles (which feed on bean beetle eggs), thanks to their similar shape and black spots.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 16 Apr. 2026
What are Asian lady beetles Harmonia axyridis, also known as the Asian lady beetle, is a relatively new arrival to this country.
—Jordan Green, Nashville Tennessean, 19 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beetles
Verb
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Part of it protrudes from the exterior, with natural airflow helping keep the food inside chilled.—
Adam Williams
March 29,
New Atlas,
29 Mar. 2026
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The lone camera is a single round lens that protrudes from the upper-left corner of the rear panel.—
Eric Zeman,
PC Magazine,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The script lightly pokes fun at the lofty ambitions of theater-makers who aim to change lives through their art, while ultimately affirming the power of theater to lift people’s spirits.—
Emily McClanathan,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Apr. 2026
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The clip also pokes fun at Roach's retirement announcement in 2023, only to return to the industry two years later.—
Catherine Santino,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Back at Big Thunder, there will be other fresh surprises, including 2,000 bats added in the approach to the ride’s rainbow caverns.—
Dewayne Bevil,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 Apr. 2026
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After Marcus’s ground ball, everybody took great at-bats.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), a brain aneurysm is a weakened area in an artery that bulges outward and fills with blood.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Japan stands out among countries heavily dependent on energy from the Persian Gulf, having so far refrained from calling for conservation measures seen in places like Australia and South Korea.—
Shoko Oda,
Bloomberg,
27 Apr. 2026
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But with the Red Wings needing to remake their bottom six, Compher nonetheless stands out as a player who could appeal to other teams in a trade and perhaps benefit from a larger role elsewhere.—
Max Bultman,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
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To rejuvenate these shrubs, cut three of the thickest canes all the way back to the ground in spring.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
25 Apr. 2026
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Video footage of disabled military veterans—some in wheelchairs, others leaning on canes—being zip-tied and dragged out of the Capitol Rotunda for staging a peaceful, anti-war protest.—
John Whitehead,
Oc Register,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Thieves armed with sledgehammers left a South Loop business damaged, all while targeting slot machines and an ATM.—
Jermont Terry,
CBS News,
29 Apr. 2026
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Eckert instructed the dads and sons to run a few hundred yards with kettlebells, sledgehammers, and sandbags, then to smash open the sandbags.—
Charles Bethea,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Operator errors, including violations of safety protocols and the removal of most absorbing rods, also played a role.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Apr. 2026
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Threads that endure A traditional backstrap loom is made up of cords, threads and wooden rods assembled into a portable frame.—
María Teresa Hernández,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Beetles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beetles. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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