Synonyms for

Wasp

Verb / wɑ:sp / Another word for wasp — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

a winged insect with a narrow waist and a sting, typically yellow and black in color.

Synonyms & similar words

wasp whiteanglosaxonprotestant bee hornet vespid stinger

Synonyms by register

Formal

hymenopteran insect

Informal

stinger bug

Literary

venomous flyer winged pest

Antonyms

bee butterfly moth ladybug firefly

Common collocations

  • wasp sting
  • paper wasp
  • yellow jacket wasp
  • wasp nest
  • angry wasp
  • solitary wasp
  • wasp spray

Word family

noun wasp
adjective waspish

Usage note

While 'wasp' can refer to any insect of the order Hymenoptera (excluding bees and ants), it most commonly refers to predatory or parasitic insects with a narrow waist and a potent sting. 'Waspish' is an adjective meaning irritable or bad-tempered.

Example sentences

  1. The wasp buzzed by my ear.
  2. The wasp stung me and it hurt.
  3. I don't like wasps because they can sting.
  4. The wasp nest was hanging from the tree.
  5. The wasp landed on the flower to drink nectar.

Quotes

  • The buzzing of the humble-bee, the wasp, and the hornet, is considered sublime by the hummingbird. - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
  • The bee collects honey from flowers in such a way as to do the least damage or destruction to them, and he leaves them whole, undamaged and fresh, just as he found them. - Saint Francis de Sales
  • If you want to get rid of a wasp, you swat it. - Jay Leno

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