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gums 1 of 2

noun

plural of gum
as in mucilages

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gums

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of gum
1
as in clumps

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Dissimilar Words
2
as in oils

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3
as in chews

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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 gums
Noun
Receding gums, persistent bad breath and bleeding while brushing or flossing round out the common signs of the gum disease and decay that eventually lead to tooth loss. — Allison Palmer, Sacbee.com, 6 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gums
  1. dope
  2. clumps
  3. oils
  4. chews
  5. soils
  6. licks
  7. greases
  8. tastes
Noun
  • Shaw was found dead in the bedroom of a Manhattan apartment one day after purchasing a purple bag of dope supplied by one of Livigni’s dealers, officials said.
    — Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Messages were sent to help him … but the big dope didn’t notice.
    — Michael Schneider, Variety, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of dope
Verb
  • Dividing clumps every few years in early spring also maintains their vigor.
    — SJ McShane, Martha Stewart, 11 July 2026
  • Like generations of potential treatments before it, KRSA-028 is designed to break down a protein called amyloid that clumps up in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients.
    — Allison DeAngelis, STAT, 18 Feb. 2026
Definition of clumps
Verb
  • Ramakrishnan typically oils her hair twice a week before washing it.
    — Katie Hill, PEOPLE, 14 Jan. 2026
Definition of oils
Verb
  • Robin doesn’t know how to use the word ‘’literally,’’ Ted corrects everyone, Lily chews too loudly, and Barney speaks in falsetto.
    — Erin Strecker, Entertainment Weekly, 22 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 chews
Verb
  • Volcanic vineyard soils on display at Omina Romana.
    — Layne Randolph, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
  • At one point, the prisoner soils himself, prompting a vomitous reaction.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2025
Definition of soils
Verb
  • That glib self-confidence is present in McNamara, who licks the doughnut glaze off his fingers before offering his hand to the female detective questioning the one living Jason.
    — Scott Tobias, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Later, a woman protractedly licks blue ice cream from a cone, her attempts thwarted by ferocious gusts of wind and sand.
    — Matilda Hague, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of licks
Verb
  • Rectitude is a hindrance in the game of electoral politics, where money greases the slippery pole and glad-hands welcome the winner with inside information.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 24 Aug. 2026
  • View this post on Instagram Access greases the gears of the entire apparatus by creating its own positive feedback loop, like an ouroboros of exclusivity.
    — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2026
Definition of greases
Verb
  • Sweet, ripe fruit tastes sugary, but doesn’t cause blood sugar to quickly spike the way high-sugar foods such as candy, cookies, or soda do.
    — Heather Jones, Verywell Health, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Healthier Potato Salad This potato salad looks just like your classic barbecue or potluck dish (and tastes pretty similar too).
    — Ginger Crichton, Midwest Living, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of tastes

Browse Nearby Words

gumption
gums
gumshoe
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Cite this Entry

“Gums.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gums. Accessed 29 Sep. 2026.

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