A dryad is a mythicalrelated to stories, legends, or beings from traditional tales female spirit or deitya god or goddess, especially in religion or legend associated with trees and woods. The word is used in mythology and fantasy writing, and it most often refers to a tree nympha young female nature spirit in ancient stories.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-19. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈdraɪ.æd/
Easy pronunciation: DRY-ad (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the first syllable: DRY-ad.
Mythology sense: a female wood spirit or tree nymph.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-19. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Dryad Meaning
a tree nymph in mythology
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a mythical female spirit or deity of the woods, especially one associated with trees
Example: In the story, a dryad appeared beside the old oak tree.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- wood nymph — Direct synonym for the mythological sense.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-19. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Dryad Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- wood nymph
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-19. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Do not confuse dryad with druid; a dryad is a tree spirit, while a druid is a priest or religious leader in Celtic traditions.
- Dryad refers to a mythical being, not a real animal or plant.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-19. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does dryad mean?
A dryad is a mythical female spirit or deity connected with woods and trees.
What is a synonym for dryad?
Wood nymph is the main synonym for dryad.
Is a dryad the same as a fairy?
Not exactly. A dryad is specifically a tree spirit or wood nymph in mythology.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-19. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
