1
as in mouth
the jaws of a bird together with their hornlike covering a finch cracking seeds in its nib

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2
as in tip
the last and usually sharp or tapering part of something long and narrow make sure the nib has been sharpened before you try to cut anything

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 nib For dessert, there’s a housemade gelato featuring orange, custard and cacao nibs. Kate Bradshaw, The Mercury News, 3 Feb. 2025 The best part, of course, is sampling cacao nibs, loads of fresh fruit and nuts, as well as honey, along the way. Tanvi Chheda, AFAR Media, 17 Jan. 2025 The cultural perception of nib-heeled steppers has, of course, softened since then. Daniel Rodgers, Vogue, 8 Jan. 2025 Each is a mix of oats, seeds and healthy inclusions such as goji berries, cacao nibs, nuts and coconut, providing a great source of fibre. Joanne Shurvell, Forbes, 1 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for nib
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nib
Noun
  • Agnes has a gawky, floppy-haired beauty, a gently appraising stare, quizzically arching eyebrows, and a tendency to listen with her mouth half open, as if in anticipation of a punch line that will take her, and us, by surprise.
    Justin Chang, New Yorker, 20 June 2025
  • Right as Elio opens his mouth to respond, the scene cuts, and the credits return.
    Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 20 June 2025
Noun
  • Moving further north Florida is one of the only places the subtropical fruit grows in the United States and groves cover more than 1000 acres across the state, most of them in the southern tip of the state.
    Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 26 June 2025
  • Experts recommended several tips to help older adults stay safe during extreme heat.
    Julia Ries, Health, 26 June 2025
Noun
  • The seagull appears to poke the garment around with its beak a few times before the clip ends.
    Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 June 2025
  • And thanks to its strong beak and claws, the kākā is a skilled forager, eating everything from insects and seeds, to nectar and fruit.
    Laurie Winkless, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025
Noun
  • The New Zealand team Auckland City began the Club World Cup as the tournament’s fall guys, losing 10-0 against the German champions Bayern Munich, but by the end of the group stage, the semi-professional outfit earned respect by holding Boca Juniors to a draw.
    Adam Crafton, New York Times, 27 June 2025
  • That legislation collapsed when then-Sen. John McCain famously cast a thumbs-down vote. Senate Majority Leader John Thune is determined to avoid that outcome, sticking to the schedule and pressing ahead with voting expected by the end of the week.
    Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 26 June 2025
Noun
  • Juma and the camera are both near enough to the chaos to see muzzle flashes up close.
    Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 15 June 2025
  • Then in September, a Secret Service agent spotted the muzzle of a rifle sticking out of a fence in bushes at Trump's West Palm Beach golf club while scouting the course ahead of Trump.
    Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 June 2025
Noun
  • These special flagships are at the apex of its retail strategy and network of 364 points of sale.
    Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 18 June 2025
  • Trusted advisors are the apex of the professional class.
    Mark A. Cohen, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
Noun
  • Workers and queens also have very similar appearances, with long, slender bodies that are dark brown or black, and legs and mandibles (jawbones) that are a lighter brown or orange color, the extension says.
    Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 16 June 2025
  • The ant uses its mandible to grab on to the skin before curling its abdomen to reveal its stinger and inject venom into the body.
    Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 11 June 2025
Noun
  • Begin by creating an awkward distance between nose and glass (an inch or two is good) and then go for a series of little gentle sniffs, thus warming up your nose.
    Felipe Schrieberg, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
  • This is especially true for light-colored cats or those with thin fur, and is common on areas of the body, including the bridge of the nose, ear tips, eyelids, lips, abdomen, armpits, groin, and inner thighs.
    Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Nib.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nib. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.

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