BUILDING BLOCKS Synonyms: 46 Similar and Opposite Words

building blocks

noun

plural of building block

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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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 building blocks Competitive advantage increasingly comes from knowing which technologies are strategic enough to develop internally and which can serve as building blocks for innovation higher in the stack. — Iri Trashanski, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2026 Open models can be downloaded, customized and used as building blocks for new AI products, making adoption a gauge of which technologies developers are choosing to build on. — Saritha Rai, Fortune, 15 Aug. 2026 Researchers highlighted three essential amino acids that are building blocks of protein — methionine, isoleucine and valine. — Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 3 Aug. 2026 Scientists have found interesting chemistry in our galaxy, including building blocks for genetic material and parts of the cell. — CBS News, 13 July 2026 Each 21-centimeter-square robot is equipped with its own thrusters, sensors, and magnetic latches, allowing the fleet to connect like building blocks on the water. — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 10 July 2026 The body uses omega-3s as building blocks and chemical messengers that help reduce inflammation, among other benefits. — Matt Fuchs, Time, 26 June 2026 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for building blocks

Noun

Government troops also conducted raids in various areas Thursday and killed 10 militants believed to be members of the Pakistani Taliban, the military and police said.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 19 Sep. 2026
Donna Smith, McAuley’s first coach, and a few members of the first state championship team were honored before Friday’s match.

— Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of members

Noun

The countries trying to broker an end to the Iran conflict — Oman, Pakistan, and Qatar — are themselves facing military attacks and economic strain from the war, an unusual dynamic that factors into the incentives and urgency behind their mediation.

— Lauren Morganbesser, semafor.com, 22 Sep. 2026
Even though the analysis adjusted for several potential confounding factors, other unmeasured factors could still contribute to the observed relationship.

— Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of factors

Noun

Before our planet had oceans, air, or even a solid surface, the raw ingredients for life were already brewing in the dark, freezing fringes of the early Solar System.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 22 Sep. 2026
Expect a full bounty of fresh ingredients straight from the Italian peninsula and the Iberian, from Abruzzo truffles to Joselito ham, and Andrian burrata to Vesuvian Pomo d'Oro cream.

— Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of ingredients

Noun

Similarly, pyrometers and aerospace instrumentation can require durable optical windows that allow infrared or other optical measurements while protecting sensitive internal components from harsh external conditions.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 17 Sep. 2026
Stark says the reduction comes from controls and fasteners rather than unsprung or rotating components, so suspension and wheel-control characteristics remain unchanged.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of components

Noun

These chemical molecules selectively bind with particular rare earth elements during processing, helping operators separate them from mixed feedstocks.

— Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 19 Sep. 2026
From Ryan and Myers to directors Adam Arkin, guest starring as a shady lawyer to boot, and Nina Lopez-Corrado, everybody on American Hostage deserves credit for introducing all these good elements.

— Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of elements

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building block

building blocks

buildings

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“Building blocks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/building%20blocks. Accessed 22 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of building blocks

noun

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