gnat
Minuscule airborne nuisance
A gnat is any of various tiny flying insects, especially those that bite or swarm around the face.
The word covers midges, fungus gnats, and similar pests.
To strain at a gnat is to fuss over trivial matters while ignoring larger ones—from the biblical image of filtering gnats from wine.
Something negligible may be dismissed as not worth a gnat's attention: I don't give a gnat's ass what they think.
Diminutive two-winged fly
- flyTwo-winged buzzing insect
- mosquitoBlood-feeding flying pest
- no-see-umNearly invisible biting insect
- blackflyBiting insect, dark-colored
diptera · larva · antenna · proboscis · thorax · abdomen · exoskeleton · pupa
Pierce with teeth
- itchUrge to scratch
- weltRaised skin injury
- annoyanceState of being bothered
- nuisanceCause of aggravation
bothersome · nagging · pestering · vexing · irksome · aggravating · exasperating · maddening
Low steady sound
- droneUnmanned flying machine
- whirContinuous humming sound
- whineComplain in high pitch
- buzzContinuous low drone
zipping · whizzing · humming · murmur · flit · hover · swat · ear
Atmospheric water vapor mass
- hordeDisorganized, overwhelming crowd
- infestationPest takeover situation
- clusterGathered group nearby
- throngDense pressing crowd
multitude · mass · flock · plague · congregation · gathering · aggregation · column
Extremely small in size
- microscopicToo small for eyes
- minuteSixtieth of an hour
- infinitesimalQuantity approaching zero
- speckMinute visible particle
mote · small · diminutive · wee · pinprick · dot · fleeting · delicate
Unimportant small matter
- trifleInsignificant matter or thing
- nitpickFind petty faults
- minorScale with lowered third
- insignificantLacking importance or consequence
midge
Diminutive two-winged fly
- flyTwo-winged buzzing insect
- mosquitoBlood-feeding flying pest
- no-see-umNearly invisible biting insect
blackfly · diptera · larva · antenna · proboscis · thorax · abdomen · exoskeleton · pupa · metamorphosis
bite
Pierce with teeth
nuisance · bothersome · nagging · pestering · vexing · irksome · aggravating · exasperating · maddening · swat
hum
Low steady sound
buzz · zipping · whizzing · humming · murmur · flit · hover · swat · ear · irritating
cloud
Atmospheric water vapor mass
- hordeDisorganized, overwhelming crowd
- infestationPest takeover situation
- clusterGathered group nearby
throng · multitude · mass · flock · plague · congregation · gathering · aggregation · column · hovering
minuscule
Extremely small in size
- microscopicToo small for eyes
- minuteSixtieth of an hour
- infinitesimalQuantity approaching zero
speck · mote · small · diminutive · wee · pinprick · dot · fleeting · delicate · lightweight
triviality
Unimportant small matter
insignificant · petty · quibble · fuss
gnattitan
Dominant figure in field
giant · colossus · powerhouse · heavyweight · juggernaut
- fungus gnatSmall fly infesting damp soil
- gnat's assInfinitesimal quantity, hyperbolically
- gnat biteSmall fly's skin puncture
- gnat trapDevice for catching midges
- sand gnatTiny biting coastal insect
- gnat's whiskerExtremely narrow margin