1
as in mouth
the jaws of a bird together with their hornlike covering a finch cracking seeds in its nib

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2
as in tip
the last and usually sharp or tapering part of something long and narrow make sure the nib has been sharpened before you try to cut anything

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of nib The palate shows notes of cassis, coca nib and black cherry. Katie Kelly Bell, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025 The applicator was a flexible plastic nib rather than a cushioned tip, which allowed for precise application but sometimes went on a bit unevenly. The Glamour Editors, Glamour, 21 July 2025 That curl makes the nib of a fountain pen dry and scratchy. Benjamin Hale june 23, Literary Hub, 23 June 2025 Almond Sable Cookies with Cacao Nibs This vegan version of a rich, delicate, crumbly sable, the classic French cookie named for its tender texture, uses only a handful of ingredients, including coconut oil, almond meal, sugar, flour and cacao nibs. Betty Hallock, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for nib
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nib
Noun
  • Good flavor knows no boundaries, and Charlotte’s restaurants featuring authentic Hispanic and Latin American cuisine will make your mouth water.
    Loán Lake, Charlotte Observer, 15 Oct. 2025
  • Also, keep it out of eyes, noses, and mouths.
    Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 15 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • To cope with the effects of daylight saving, Granger has tips to make the workplace more pleasant.
    Jessica Coacci, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Porowski was also kind enough to share some of his favorite holiday hosting gifts and preparation tips for meals.
    Brittany Loggins, Bon Appetit Magazine, 21 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The most distinctive features are the bold black-and-white bands across the head and through the eyes, but the yellow beak and the unspotted gray breast are easy ways to confidently identify this dapper bird.
    Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Oct. 2025
  • Bob Ross painting a landscape as his pet crow holds a paintbrush in its beak.
    Minyvonne Burke, NBC news, 7 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Citing climate change concerns and the melting ice sheet, Greenland implemented a moratorium on oil and gas drilling in 2021—seemingly bringing all oil dreams to an end—but the government agreed that White Flame’s licenses were grandfathered and remained valid.
    Jordan Blum, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2025
  • The crypto investment amounted to less than 1% of the total assets managed by the board which was more than $162 billion as of the end of 2024.
    Ricardo Torres, jsonline.com, 21 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • With a large 10-round magazine, strong muzzle break, and semi-auto action, shooters can take quick follow-up shots.
    Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2025
  • But Duane’s grip on the rifle was so tight that the muzzle stayed jammed under the bear’s chin.
    Marguerite Reiss, Outdoor Life, 9 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The resounding tension of this nearly 100-year-old psychological masterpiece will leave modern audiences guessing until its emotional apex.
    Steven Thrash, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Oct. 2025
  • Human beasts are rarely alone, and far from secure at the apex of the animal kingdom.
    Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • That calls for a little extra creativity from its mom — and the movie’s narrator (Emilia Clarke) — who wriggles her mandibles and gets to work embellishing upon what Dahl imagined.
    Peter Debruge, Variety, 14 Oct. 2025
  • Similar to a mouthguard, a MAD holds the lower jaw (mandible) and tongue forward, keeping the airway open.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 13 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The plane's inflatable escape slide was deployed, and the nose and tail sections of the plane separated.
    Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025
  • Close your eyes right now and take 5 breaths, in through the nose, out through the mouth.
    Bill Hoogterp, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Nib.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nib. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.

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