thumb

1
as in to hitch
to travel by securing free rides thought I'd thumb into town instead of paying for a cab

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2
as in to flip
to turn over pages in an idle or cursory manner I thumbed through the book during the flight but was too distracted to really read it

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 thumb DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin accused Outlaw and Jackson of thumbing their noses at the criminal justice system and allegedly committing another crime while on pre-trial release. Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 17 July 2025 Perhaps equally repugnant is the thought that a magazine that once thumbed its nose seems to have shifted its hand and sadly scratches an ear. John Updike, New Yorker, 11 July 2025 With the sixth round of negotiations just two days away, however, Israel thumbed its nose at the United States and launched an attack on Iran anyway. Ron Paul, Oc Register, 10 July 2025 And now: Hardy has evolved since then into a rock star adept at making country music that thumbs its nose at mainstream expectations. Laura L. Davis, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for thumb
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thumb
Verb
  • The most efficient way to transport the stones — based on what is known about other megalith-constructing societies — would be to hitch cows to a sled.
    Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2025
  • But Amazon must be doing something right if even Peacock sees the value of hitching its wagon to the big guy.
    Brian Welk, IndieWire, 28 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • But in the fourth quarter, McCarthy seemed to have flipped a switch.
    Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
  • One strong gust of wind can be enough to flip one of these trailers onto its side.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • That’s what was bumming him out.
    Emily Longeretta, Variety, 3 Sep. 2025
  • To be this close over and over is really bumming me out.
    Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 29 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Trees are leafing, birds are chirping and the mere thought of sending a Microsoft Teams or Slack message feels like an affront to Mother Nature; spring has finally sprung in Indianapolis.
    Bradley Hohulin, IndyStar, 2 July 2025
  • This is because of the increasing demands for networking and switches to connect exponentially larger clusters, from spine to leaf in the front end and back end, rack to rack and accelerator to accelerator.
    Beth Kindig, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Crowding out the understory Researchers think Japanese stiltgrass hitchhiked to the United States in the early 1900s.
    Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 28 Aug. 2025
  • The high school student was hitchhiking for a ride to her ballet class (rather than waiting for the bus) when Kemper picked her up.
    Lynsey Eidell, People.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Recreate her look with these beige tall boots that skim just below the knee.
    Nicol Natale, People.com, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Auto-renewal clauses that quietly lock in years of fees, conflicting obligations buried in multiple agreements, or vague termination terms that can trigger disputes down the road are all red flags that entrepreneurs might skim past.
    Rhett Power, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Thumb.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thumb. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

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