Synonyms for

Insects

Verb / ˈɪˌnsekts / Another word for insects — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

small animals with three body parts, six legs, and often wings, such as ants, bees, and flies.

Synonyms & similar words

dirtball worm louse insect bugs creepy-crawlies critters beetles moths lice fleas termites gnats wasps hornets cockroaches ants spiders scorpions millipedes centipedes butterflies dragonflies grasshoppers

Synonyms by register

Formal

arthropods hexapods

Informal

bugs critters

Literary

creepy-crawlies minibeasts

Antonyms

mammals birds reptiles amphibians fish vertebrates

Common collocations

  • common insects
  • flying insects
  • insect repellent
  • insect bites
  • insect population
  • insect species
  • insect control

Word family

noun insect
adjective insectoid
adverb insectly

Usage note

While 'bugs' is often used informally for insects, it technically refers to a specific order of insects (Hemiptera). 'Insects' is the general and scientifically accurate term.

Example sentences

  1. The butterfly is a beautiful insect with colorful wings.
  2. The ants work together to gather food for their colony.
  3. I don't like the sound of buzzing insects near me.
  4. The spider is not an insect because it has eight legs instead of six.
  5. The bee pollinates flowers to help them grow.

Quotes

  • "The grasshopper, the cricket, and the locust are all of the same family; but the one who has wings is the king of all." - Thomas Wentworth Higginson
  • "The caterpillar does all the work, but the butterfly gets all the publicity." - George Carlin
  • "The praying mantis is a living proof that aliens have visited Earth and have built robots." - Unknown

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