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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of reed
Graziose kept a photo of the quartet in which Griffin looks reed-thin and sports bangs.
—
Shawn Tully, Fortune, 31 Mar. 2026
Exhibits over the years have showcased a heady array of musical instruments and equipment, from guitars, pianos, accordions and reed instruments to synthesizers, theremins, foot pedals, a Harpejji (a 24-string cross between a piano and a guitar) and much more.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Mar. 2026
The ceilings and part of the lounge decor are fashioned from Phragmites australis, a reed used by local communities for thatching and crafting.
—Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Mar. 2026
At the same time, Utah is working to remove a nonnative reed called phragmites, which is growing on the lake surface and sucking down twice as much water as native plants.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 7 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reed
Shawn Tully, Fortune, 31 Mar. 2026
Exhibits over the years have showcased a heady array of musical instruments and equipment, from guitars, pianos, accordions and reed instruments to synthesizers, theremins, foot pedals, a Harpejji (a 24-string cross between a piano and a guitar) and much more.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Mar. 2026
The ceilings and part of the lounge decor are fashioned from Phragmites australis, a reed used by local communities for thatching and crafting.
—Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Mar. 2026
At the same time, Utah is working to remove a nonnative reed called phragmites, which is growing on the lake surface and sucking down twice as much water as native plants.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 7 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reed
Noun
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According to the referee report, Bright used a racial slur that is slang for punk or coward.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
21 Apr. 2026
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Time constraints once again strike here, but there’s also the fact that the movie drops the plot’s true twist — that Grace is a coward — only a few minutes before.—
Matthew Razak,
Space.com,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Thousands of bright blue, jellyfish-like sea creatures are washing up on beaches across California.—
Stephanie Zappelli,
Sacbee.com,
23 Apr. 2026
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SeaWorld likens the experience to the LED room in its Jewels of the Sea attraction that brings to life various shapes and sizes of jellyfish.—
Lori Weisberg,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The doormat is available in three sizes, and I was sent the XL runner to fit my spacious hallway.—
Rachel Trujillo,
PEOPLE,
23 Apr. 2026
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Between colorful doormats and minimalist styles, these spring-inspired finds add a splash of beauty and practicality.—
Brittany VanDerBill,
Better Homes & Gardens,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The fiber-optic drones are the latest part of a cat-and-mouse race as Israel’s high-tech defenses race to intercept new threats, especially ones that are less sophisticated.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
30 Apr. 2026
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Sasha is then forced to play a ritualistic cat-and-mouse game that Robbins considers to be his homage to Deliverance (1972) and The River Wild (1994).—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
When bumbling village policeman Derry (an endearing Nicholas Braun) dismisses any suspicion of foul play despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, it’s left to the sheep to prove otherwise — despite no ability to converse with their human counterparts beyond Lassie-style leading and hinting.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
27 Apr. 2026
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Contrary to speculation about the intellectual capabilities of sheep, this herd loves solving fictional crimes and is pretty good at it, especially the very smart Lily (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) the titular head of this ragtag crew.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Reed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reed. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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