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praying mantis
noun
: mantis
especially
: a European mantis (Mantis religiosa) that has been introduced into the U.S.
called also praying mantid
Examples of praying mantis in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
And without missing a beat, didn’t Marlo reach down and pick up this praying mantis and carry it with her across to the other side of the street and put it on the lawn?
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 31 Aug. 2024
Inside are cases displaying dramatic pieces shaped like tropical frogs, snakes, and insects, plus an extensive collection of evil eye jewelry, oversized pharaoh cuffs, and maximalist earrings in praying mantis, jellyfish, and shell designs.
—Sevil Delin, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Apr. 2024
In a clip from A Real Bug's Life, the new Disney+ original series from National Geographic, a young unicorn praying mantis ventures out into the world to find food.
—Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 15 Feb. 2024
As with the Pixar film, the bugs (and adjacent creatures) are the main characters here, from cockroaches, monarch butterflies, and praying mantises to bees, spiders, and even hermit crabs.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 24 Jan. 2024
See all Example Sentences for praying mantis
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'praying mantis.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
circa 1890, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of praying mantis was
circa 1890
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Cite this Entry
“Praying mantis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/praying%20mantis. Accessed 2 Oct. 2024.
Kids Definition
praying mantis
noun
: mantis
especially
: a European mantis that is now found in the U.S.
More from Merriam-Webster on praying mantis
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about praying mantis
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