as in member
one of the parts that make up a whole
historically the infantry division has been a basic building block of armies
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Recent Examples of building block
The e-skin is made from magnetic patches that fit together like building blocks.
—
Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 12 Jan. 2026
But for this team, there’s building blocks for sure.
—Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 3 Jan. 2026
The scene came in a fictional segment parodying Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead in which Maggie defends her architectural talents after her daycare teacher punishes her for making beautiful structures from building blocks.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Dec. 2025
The ecstasy of love and the fear of passing poison through one’s blood are, for Dijon, building blocks as elemental as drums.
—Paul A. Thompson, Pitchfork, 8 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for building block
Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 12 Jan. 2026
But for this team, there’s building blocks for sure.
—Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 3 Jan. 2026
The scene came in a fictional segment parodying Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead in which Maggie defends her architectural talents after her daycare teacher punishes her for making beautiful structures from building blocks.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Dec. 2025
The ecstasy of love and the fear of passing poison through one’s blood are, for Dijon, building blocks as elemental as drums.
—Paul A. Thompson, Pitchfork, 8 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for building block
Recent Examples of Synonyms for building block
Noun
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Friends, former colleagues, and community members have dropped off care packages and shared words of encouragement.—
Abby Dodge,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
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Committee members were unconvinced, questioning why the congresswoman waited until the day of the hearing to produce such a document when Ethics Committee staff said proof of her rightful ownership of the funds was explicitly requested months ago.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Fish are an essential component of many of the region’s traditional plates.—
Félix Márquez,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Other major economies treat patent policy as a core component of their industrial strategy.—
Laura Peter,
Fortune,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The amount beneficiaries receive varies based on several factors, including the number of people filing.—
Asher Notheis,
The Washington Examiner,
25 Mar. 2026
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Concern that Iran was amassing missiles to overwhelm defenses was a key factor in the push for war, officials said, and recent strikes laid bare Israel’s vulnerability.—
Sammy Westfall,
Washington Post,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
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But Republicans are eyeing the inclusion of elements of the legislation into reconciliation as a means of getting it across the finish line instead.—
Lauren Green,
The Washington Examiner,
25 Mar. 2026
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The speaker has a few clever design elements.—
Mark Knapp,
PC Magazine,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
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To create a hotel that is a celebration of Italy was one of Corinthia’s main goals, and it’s reflected in the names of the hotel’s different spaces, the Italian wines in the minibar, and the Lazio producers who supply the restaurant with its ingredients.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Mar. 2026
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Happy Mammoth’s use of standardized ingredients and a multi-system approach aligns with what experts say to look for in this category, which helps explain why the formula feels more comprehensive than a single-ingredient supplement.—
Rita Templeton,
Flow Space,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Building block.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/building%20block. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
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