as in coward
a person without strength of character
the congresswoman is but a reed who bends whichever way the political winds are blowing
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of reed
That month, the rest of Esther’s body was recovered when hikers found her remains in a reed bed in Gandía, Alicante, with her bones hidden amongst undergrowth.
—
Samantha Bergeson, Time, 6 Mar. 2026
The facility is complete with 15 total acres of gardens and uses solar panels, reed-bed sewage systems, ground-source heat pumps, and rainwater harvesting.
—Elle Meier, InStyle, 3 Mar. 2026
The Italian modular savant and the Norwegian reed player have both situated their sounds to the left of center, thriving at the edges of their respective instruments and conservatory educations.
—Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 2 Mar. 2026
Rattan is a material used in wicker weaving, as are bamboo, willow, reed, and synthetic materials such as resin and plastic.
—Gabi De La Rosa, Southern Living, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reed
Samantha Bergeson, Time, 6 Mar. 2026
The facility is complete with 15 total acres of gardens and uses solar panels, reed-bed sewage systems, ground-source heat pumps, and rainwater harvesting.
—Elle Meier, InStyle, 3 Mar. 2026
The Italian modular savant and the Norwegian reed player have both situated their sounds to the left of center, thriving at the edges of their respective instruments and conservatory educations.
—Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 2 Mar. 2026
Rattan is a material used in wicker weaving, as are bamboo, willow, reed, and synthetic materials such as resin and plastic.
—Gabi De La Rosa, Southern Living, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reed
Noun
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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
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John Cornyn is a coward who has refused to support abolishing the filibuster to pass this bill.—
Jack Fink,
CBS News,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Sea turtles and other marine animals can often confuse burst balloons floating in the water for jellyfish.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
31 Mar. 2026
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Observing jellyfish gametes develop under a microscope lured him away from the neat logic of physics and chemistry and into the dynamic processes of biology.—
Marlowe Starling,
Quanta Magazine,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Made with durable natural fibers, this 18-inch-by-30-inch, skid-resistant doormat features a cheery floral design and a welcome message.—
Michele Laufik,
Martha Stewart,
25 Feb. 2026
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Being vulnerable doesn’t mean becoming a doormat and letting others walk all over you.—
Barton Goldsmith,
AJC.com,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Soderbergh extracts some fun from the ensuing cat-and-mouse logistics, from Lori’s meticulous duplication of the Christophers to Julian’s efforts to bluff her into admitting her true intentions.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
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During tournaments, this mouse is incredibly reliable thanks to its fast response rate, enabling quicker keystrokes and actions.—
George Yang,
PC Magazine,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Further, forcing suburban commuter cities to sit at the table with the city of San Diego controlling 42 of 100 votes on the SANDAG board is like two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner.—
John Franklin,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
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Your littlest charges will marvel at the size of the camels, tortoises and giraffes lumbering about the zoo’s meandering paths, and then eagerly pet goats and sheep in the farmyard.—
Susan McDonald,
The Providence Journal,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Reed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reed. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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