cubs

noun

plural of cub
1
as in novices
a person who is just starting out in a field of activity the kind of big story that can propel a cub reporter into the stratosphere of the newspaper world

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in kids
a young person who is between infancy and adulthood assigned to teach a bunch of young cubs how to play baseball

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 cubs The sow noticed me in that same moment and ran away with her cubs along the western trail and out of sight over the ridge. — Todd Orr, Outdoor Life, 30 July 2026 According to Visit Idaho, a majority of bear attacks are defensive measures to protect cubs, food or territory. — Idaho Statesman, 29 July 2026 After pursuing and killing the cub, Bear 806 was seen feeding on the cub’s body as her two cubs looked on. — Annie Colbert, Popular Science, 29 July 2026 The cubs, who have yet to be named, mark the second litter for Kashmir, 7, and Dawa, 3r, the post said. — Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 28 July 2026 The second of two red panda cubs born at the Santa Barbara Zoo in California this summer died over the weekend, the zoo said Monday. — Phil Helsel, NBC news, 28 July 2026 The unidentified woman took out a shotgun to try to scare away the adult bear and its two cubs from her dog but was attacked and hospitalized on July 9, according to the authorities. — ABC News, 21 July 2026 Conservationists say the bears were likely taken from the wild as cubs. — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 8 July 2026 Nothing etches itself in your heart quite like the memory of watching a pack of energetic African wild dogs frolicking, a lioness and her cubs dozing on the Kalahari with your own kids tucked in close. — Kathryn Romeyn, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cubs
  1. novices
  2. kids
  3. apprentices
  4. children
  5. beginners
  6. rookies
  7. freshmen
  8. newcomers
Noun
  • Studies of customer service representatives using AI assistance found that novices gained most from AI coaching suggestions, but critically, those learning effects transferred beyond specific situations.
    — ByJonathan H. Westover, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Knowledgeable bartenders guide novices and obsessives alike, making an overwhelming list feel approachable rather than intimidating.
    — USA TODAY NETWORK, USA Today, 29 July 2026
Definition of novices
Noun
  • Kotb and her daughters posed for a summery moms-and-kids photo alongside her Today with Hoda & Jenna co-host and their executive producer Talia Parkinson.
    — Diane J. Cho, PEOPLE, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Cheryl Reeve has been the loudest voice in favor of inclusion of transgender kids in particular.
    — Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of kids
Noun
  • City Colleges recently launched Chicago Moonshot, an apprenticeship initiative associated with the Illinois Quantum & Microelectronics Park, where the district has committed to graduating hundreds of IT apprentices over the next five years.
    — Shalin Jyotishi, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
  • There are currently 17 apprentices at the Winter Park facility.
    — Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of apprentices
Noun
  • Lindsay Clancy has not taken the stand, but the Massachusetts mother accused of killing her three children communicated in multiple ways at her murder trial this week.
    — Andi Babineau, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that in 2024 nearly 9,600 children were born to foreign mothers with an official address outside the country.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of children
Noun
  • The activity's simplicity means beginners can start light and progress gradually, even using household items for weight.
    — Jeff Fromm, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Ryerson said the terrain itself can be as critical as instruction in helping beginners progress.
    — David Caraccio Updated July 31, Sacbee.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of beginners
Noun
  • The Panthers also drafted a number of defensive rookies, led by second-rounder Lee Hunter from Texas Tech, who will get snaps in preseason.
    — John Cassillo, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Trey Watson Chiefs coach Andy Reid’s playbook is famous for its complexity, and as a result rookies have had trouble memorizing it early in their careers.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of rookies
Noun
  • The upshot is that entering freshmen only have a few months before being bombarded by banks and banking hype is unavoidable.
    — Ryan Craig, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Beyond Lofton, the Hurricanes have two blue-chip freshmen, Israel Briggs and Gavin Mueller, who joined the team in the spring.
    — Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of freshmen
Noun
  • That changed during Family Night, when Green Bay had some of its younger players and newcomers do live tackling for approximately 10 plays late in practice.
    — Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026
  • O’Neal joins newcomers Tony Danza, Talia Shire, Dominic Chianese, and Vincent Curatola, joining returning stars William DeMeo, Chazz Palminteri, Armand Assante, Pastore, Mario Cantone, Tony Darrow, and Chuck Zito.
    — Denise Petski, Deadline, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of newcomers

Browse Nearby Words

cuboid
cubs
cuckoo
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cubs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cubs. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on cubs

Nglish: Translation of cubs for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
fridge-magnet-letters
Drop a Letter Quiz August 2026 Drop a letter from a word to make a totally diffe...
See All