gum 1 of 2

noun

Definition of gumnext
as in goo

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gum

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to clump

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Dissimilar Words
2
as in to tar

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3
as in to chew

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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 gum
Noun
Jodie Sweetin is detailing her recovery following gum graft surgery. — Leigh Blickley, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Aug. 2026 Use a damp microfiber cloth to wipe away the loosened gum and any soapy residue. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 9 Aug. 2026
Verb
At the same time, Sahara dust can gum up the atmosphere and inhibit storms from forming. — Brian Kahn, Wired News, 21 May 2026 The unstable and conflicting posture of this center-left and center-right alliance has gummed up the German government’s capacity to make drastic changes. — Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 6 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for gum
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gum
  1. goo
  2. clump
  3. tar
  4. chew
  5. dope
  6. curd
  7. oil
  8. lick
Noun
  • Working in his parents’ attic in London, Perkin began experimenting with aniline, a clear oil derived from coal tar—the leftover thick black goo from Victorian gas lighting.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Birds visiting the feeder can get the goo on their wings, hampering their ability to fly and possibly leading to their untimely deaths.
    — Joan Morris, Mercury News, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of goo
Verb
  • Most cataracts develop slowly as part of the aging process when proteins and fibers in the eye’s lens break down and clump together.
    — Phil Galewitz, Miami Herald, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Today, the yard is full, teeming with edible plants wrapped around a central open area covered in clumping grass that creates a wave-like texture.
    — Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of clump
Verb
  • The 1974 tournament in West Germany was tarred by the geopolitical fallout of the 1973 Yom Kippur War.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2026
  • Public perceptions The two most damaging nuclear disasters in history – Chernobyl in 1986 and Fukushima in 2011 – each tarred the technology in the eyes of the public, leading politicians to decommission projects.
    — Joseph Wilkins, CNBC, 4 May 2026
Definition of tar
Verb
  • Khat is typically chewed like tobacco, with individuals retaining it in the cheek and chewing intermittently to release the active drug, which then produces stimulant-like effects.
    — Bryan Lynn, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Along for the ride in pouches behind its mandibles are spores of a fungus that are released as the insect chews through the wood.
    — Jack Bantock, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of chew
Noun
  • Messages were sent to help him … but the big dope didn’t notice.
    — Michael Schneider, Variety, 14 Aug. 2026
  • So many people are doing amazing things on the show, like our dope writers and animators.
    — Dominique Fluker, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
Definition of dope
Verb
  • Be sure to allow a few hours of chilling time to let the flavors meld and the biscuits, cream, and curd to set into a soft, scoopable consistency.
    — Martha Stewart, Martha Stewart, 15 Mar. 2026
Definition of curd
Verb
  • Bulloch notes skipping oiling the grates is another common mistake.
    — Lynn Andriani, Martha Stewart, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Botero uses the Hair & Scalp Oil for traditional Ayurvedic hair oiling treatments.
    — Celia Shatzman, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
Definition of oil
Verb
  • Owners should also watch for licking that is sudden, persistent or severe enough to cause hair loss or skin damage.
    — Lauren Paige Richeson, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Photos like the one below show children licking massive ice blocks for a slight reprieve from the summer heat.
    — Mack DeGeurin, Popular Science, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of lick

Browse Nearby Words

gulps
gum
gumbo
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Cite this Entry

“Gum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gum. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on gum

Nglish: Translation of gum for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about gum

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