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
The 55-year-old previously missed several weeks of the talk show amid recovery from painful gum surgery. — Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Aug. 2026 These Sam Edelman sneakers put a retro spin on the classic low-profile sneaker, complete with suede detailing and a gum sole that give them a little more visual interest than a basic white pair. — Jill Layton, PEOPLE, 20 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
  • Moisture And Humidity High humidity can cause flour to clump and spoil more quickly.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 7 Sep. 2026
  • The different theories provide different answers for how dark matter should clump.
    — Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 30 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
  • Bubble gum count will be high Sunday Hafley is known to chew bubble gum frequently.
    — Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 11 Sep. 2026
  • The part that was chewed was the part that goes over your instep, a kind of flap or lip.
    — Lydia Davis, New Yorker, 10 Sep. 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
  • To do so, place the slices in a nonstick or lightly oiled skillet over low to medium-low heat and cover the pan.
    — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Bulloch notes skipping oiling the grates is another common mistake.
    — Lynn Andriani, Martha Stewart, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of oil
Verb
  • There was the physician who analyzed the growth rate of his fingernails for 35 years and the geologist who looked into why his colleagues lick rocks.
    — Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 4 Sep. 2026
  • An ancient Nazi scientist (Dan Stevens) crawling across a carpet to lick a woman’s stilettoed foot.
    — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 31 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 14 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on gum

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about gum

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