gadfly Hear it!

gadfly Definition

gad·fly (gad′flī′)

noun pl. -·flies′

  1. any of several large flies, as the horsefly, that bite livestock
  2. a person who annoys others, esp. by rousing them from complacency

Etymology: gad + fly

gadfly Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • send: But Hera recognized Io and sent a gadfly to torment her.

Modifies a noun

  • petrel: The gadfly petrels pose a challenge to modern taxonomists.

Noun used with modifier

  • trumpeter: The trumpeter Gadfly and a number of his relations, beside several Grasshoppers and Bees, were the chief musicians.

Browse dictionary entries near gadfly

  1. ‹ Gaddafi
  2. ‹ Gadarene
  3. ‹ gadabout
  4. ‹ gad
  5. ‹ gaby
  6. ‹ Gabrielle
  7. ‹ Gabrieli
  8. ‹ Gabriel
  9. ‹ Gaborone
  10. ‹ Gabor
  1. gadget ›
  2. gadgeteer ›
  3. gadgetry ›
  4. Gadhelic ›
  5. gadoid ›
  6. gadolinite ›
  7. gadolinium ›
  8. gadroon ›
  9. Gadsden ›
  10. gadwall ›