as in chunks
a small uneven mass
toss a knob of butter into the frying pan
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of knobs
There’s no flavoring your instrument outside of its own knobs or pre-amp, nor is there any gain to get overdrive.
—
Mark Knapp, PC Magazine, 1 Apr. 2026
In the wake of the scare, Rocky has taken extra precautions, purchasing childproof safety locks for her stove knobs to help prevent accidental activation in the future.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Compared to my Telecaster and Stratocaster with their pickups, their wiring, their knobs and switches, the classical guitar has a certain simplicity in the way this wood resonates and thereby creates music.
—Peter Wayne Moe, Longreads, 26 Mar. 2026
The video depicted fingers on a MIDI keyboard, turning knobs, pushing buttons and supposedly composing the song in real time.
—Sam Davies, Rolling Stone, 25 Mar. 2026
Many companies have gone further, integrating essential vehicle controls into those systems while reducing physical buttons and knobs.
—Chris Teague, AJC.com, 13 Mar. 2026
Protect Hardware When Painting Painting can result in a real mess when stray streaks and drips land on handles, knobs, and pulls.
—Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2026
Upgrade Your Hardware Speaking of hardware—replacing your builder-grade door handles, cabinet knobs, light switches, vent covers, and even door hinges can instantly upgrade a space.
—Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Mar. 2026
Before cleaning the handles, knobs, or drawer pulls, consider the hardware material.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 4 Mar. 2026
Mark Knapp, PC Magazine, 1 Apr. 2026
In the wake of the scare, Rocky has taken extra precautions, purchasing childproof safety locks for her stove knobs to help prevent accidental activation in the future.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Compared to my Telecaster and Stratocaster with their pickups, their wiring, their knobs and switches, the classical guitar has a certain simplicity in the way this wood resonates and thereby creates music.
—Peter Wayne Moe, Longreads, 26 Mar. 2026
The video depicted fingers on a MIDI keyboard, turning knobs, pushing buttons and supposedly composing the song in real time.
—Sam Davies, Rolling Stone, 25 Mar. 2026
Many companies have gone further, integrating essential vehicle controls into those systems while reducing physical buttons and knobs.
—Chris Teague, AJC.com, 13 Mar. 2026
Protect Hardware When Painting Painting can result in a real mess when stray streaks and drips land on handles, knobs, and pulls.
—Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2026
Upgrade Your Hardware Speaking of hardware—replacing your builder-grade door handles, cabinet knobs, light switches, vent covers, and even door hinges can instantly upgrade a space.
—Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Mar. 2026
Before cleaning the handles, knobs, or drawer pulls, consider the hardware material.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 4 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knobs
Noun
-
Apple first became the world’s most valuable company in 2011, passing Exxon Mobil, and held that title for large chunks of the decade plus that followed, occasionally getting surpassed by Alphabet or Microsoft.—
Jennifer Elias,
CNBC,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Fold in crushed pineapple and drained pineapple chunks until well combined.—
Jasmine Smith,
Southern Living,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
As most of the scientific books tell us, coagulating protein at lower temperatures produces more tender clumps; adding a little water or cream makes an omelet tenderer still.—
Jeffrey Steingarten,
Vogue,
5 Apr. 2026
-
The stuffing, Certipur-US and Greenguard Gold-certified for safety, is cross-cut to prevent lumps and clumps, keeping the pillow smooth, airy, and puffy, despite being crammed into hiking packs and suitcases.—
Olivia Young,
Travel + Leisure,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Our pants had been ripped from brush and windfalls, and wads of insulation were hanging out of mine.—
Elwyn "Bud" Myers,
Outdoor Life,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Use those wads of wrapping paper leftover from a birthday, baby shower, or holiday bash to stuff the bottom and sides of the box and prevent shifting during shipping.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
25 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Inspired by both pre-Columbian cultures and modern scientific theories, Jensen made energetic diagrams of shapes, symbols, and numbers in loud complementary colors, using thick globs of paint; the results generate a fascinating friction.—
Brian Seibert,
New Yorker,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
These patients had either breast cancer or benign lumps, and their final diagnosis was confirmed with a biopsy.—
Quing Zhu,
The Conversation,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Pour mixture through a fine mesh strainer into a medium bowl; discard any lumps.—
Erin Merhar,
Southern Living,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Her trick is to finely chop the ginger, instead of grating it, so there are spicy-sweet nubs in each bite.—
Nina Moskowitz,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Best Nylabone chew toys for puppies This three-pack includes one softer starter bone with nubs that are great for teething, one slightly tougher bone to move onto and one edible bone.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
More recently, Indigenous peoples such as the Chumash and the Yokuts used asphalt to make face paint, game pieces, glue, and waterproofing caulk for boats and baskets.—
Jeffrey Marlow,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Wear your bulkiest pieces on the plane A puffy parka or clunky pair of boots can take up a solid chunk of suitcase space.—
Hannah Chubb,
Condé Nast Traveler,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The iPhone maker isn’t spending gobs of cash in the race to expand AI computing capacity, instead partnering with Google to power artificial intelligence features.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
6 Mar. 2026
-
There are gobs of money to be made selling enterprise software, but dulling the impact of AI is also a useful feint.—
Josh Tyrangiel,
The Atlantic,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Knobs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knobs. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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