as in members
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 blocks
The goal is not finished meals but building blocks that move easily between lunches and dinners.
—
Kansas City Star, 27 May 2026
Achane and center Aaron Brewer as building blocks for the new regime.
—Miami Herald, 19 May 2026
These nanoglobules act as building blocks, and they’re held in a stable, liquid state.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 9 May 2026
In the video, Bill Riley, a vice president of Starship engineering, cast endeavors like SpaceX's smaller Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets, as well as its Dragon spacecraft that travels in orbit, as building blocks to the grander unveiling of Starship.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 1 May 2026
Now, as a study in Nature Communications reports, Curiosity may not have only found conditions that could have hosted life, but chemicals that, on Earth at least, are building blocks of biology.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 21 Apr. 2026
Players like Buium, Tom Willander and Liam Öhgren may be building blocks, perhaps, but the reality is that this process is beginning without any surefire cornerstone pieces in place.
—Thomas Drance, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2026
Such a meal should include a good source of protein, such as eggs, in order to stock up on or refuel depleted amino acids, including cysteine and methionine, which are building blocks for protective antioxidants.
—Lauren J. Young, Scientific American, 17 Mar. 2026
Every day, practice, period, rep, snap and second are building blocks to something bigger.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Mar. 2026
Kansas City Star, 27 May 2026
Achane and center Aaron Brewer as building blocks for the new regime.
—Miami Herald, 19 May 2026
These nanoglobules act as building blocks, and they’re held in a stable, liquid state.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 9 May 2026
In the video, Bill Riley, a vice president of Starship engineering, cast endeavors like SpaceX's smaller Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets, as well as its Dragon spacecraft that travels in orbit, as building blocks to the grander unveiling of Starship.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 1 May 2026
Now, as a study in Nature Communications reports, Curiosity may not have only found conditions that could have hosted life, but chemicals that, on Earth at least, are building blocks of biology.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 21 Apr. 2026
Players like Buium, Tom Willander and Liam Öhgren may be building blocks, perhaps, but the reality is that this process is beginning without any surefire cornerstone pieces in place.
—Thomas Drance, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2026
Such a meal should include a good source of protein, such as eggs, in order to stock up on or refuel depleted amino acids, including cysteine and methionine, which are building blocks for protective antioxidants.
—Lauren J. Young, Scientific American, 17 Mar. 2026
Every day, practice, period, rep, snap and second are building blocks to something bigger.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for building blocks
Noun
-
This is a good day to help family members and show support for them.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
30 May 2026
-
The following year, in one of the most notorious incidents of the war, Naxals killed 76 members of the security forces in an ambush in Chhattisgarh.—
Dhruv Tikekar,
CNN Money,
30 May 2026
Noun
-
Several factors can cause tomato leaves to curl, and some are more serious than others.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
29 May 2026
-
Offer availability, placement, and display are determined by the third party and may be influenced by compensation and other factors.—
Liz Knueven,
CNBC,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
Food and drink The culinary strategy is focused on hyperlocal ingredients and sustainability.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 June 2026
-
Those ingredients stayed, and when Harris joined other aspects came to the front of the story, like going back to her old address and the issue of friendship.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
26 May 2026
Noun
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One of the key components is the VDM 80 actuator joint, a compact but powerful motor that acts as the robot’s muscles.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
2 June 2026
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At its core, ThermoShift is basically a rectangular insulated panel with zippers, buckles and drawstrings, and all of its configurations are achieved by adjusting those components.—
Maryna Holovnova,
New Atlas,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
Although the hotel is Japanese inspired, the Peninsula Tokyo incorporates many pan-Asian elements—gilt finishes, flower petal motifs on the carpets, and cherry wood panelling, to name a few.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
The defining elements are elaborate parades, continuous samba dancing and vibrant costumes — every piece crafted by local samba schools that spend the entire year preparing.—
Hanna Wickes,
Sacbee.com,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Building blocks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/building%20blocks. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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