nodules

noun

plural of nodule
as in swellings
a small rounded mass of swollen tissue a nodule on the leaf indicated that a worm had laid eggs there

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 nodules And just to take a step back, legumes are this incredible family of plants in nature that form nodules that are full of something called rhizobia, which are nitrogen-fixing bacteria. — Quanta Magazine, 15 Oct. 2026 Deep-sea mining companies are targeting this vast reserves of metal-rich nodules to power the electric vehicle market. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2026 Depending on the size, appearance, growth and cause of nodules, they can be either be monitored regularly by a physician or treated with medication or surgery. — ABC News, 12 Oct. 2026 Chicago's Northwestern Memorial Hospital is home to the Lung Health Center, which sees nodules like this regularly. — Tara Molina, CBS News, 12 Oct. 2026 Applications Agriculture Similar to other legumes, butterfly pea harbors nitrogen-fixing bacteria in its root nodules, enabling it to enrich the soil with nitrogen. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Oct. 2026 Five round nodules, each about a centimeter wide, clustered together like grapes, were stuck to the stone. — Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026 Pulmonary nodules can be small and difficult to distinguish within the complex architecture of the lung. — Oran Muduroglu, Forbes.com, 24 Sep. 2026 Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a bright cluster of nodules surrounded by fluid in her left frontal lobe. — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 22 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nodules
  1. swellings
  2. lumps
  3. nodes
  4. bumps
  5. bruises
  6. tumors
Noun
  • Burls are sound, hard, woody swellings or protrusions that form on the trunks, branches, or roots of trees.
    — Pamm Cooper, Hartford Courant, 25 July 2026
  • This microscopic roundworm lays its eggs in root tissues, causing swellings or galls to develop on infected roots.
    — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 21 June 2026
Definition of swellings
Noun
  • The longer the sweet potatoes heat in the Dutch oven, the more the lumps will soften.
    — Candy Hom, AJC.com, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Morton kosher salt in food processor until no lumps remain, about 1 minute.
    — Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of lumps
Noun
  • While its aesthetic benefits have helped bring lymphatic drainage into the mainstream, this intricate network of vessels, nodes, and fluid is fundamental to everything from immune function to maintaining the body's fluid balance.
    — Marie Bladt, Vogue, 1 Nov. 2026
  • Once a dominant force in the chip manufacturing landscape, Intel hit major delays with its 7- and 10-nanometer nodes, triggering the stock's worst year ever in 2024.
    — Katie Tarasov, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of nodes
Noun
  • That process has already included some bumps, with the Heat outscored by 45 points in the 71 minutes that Adebayo and Antetokounmpo played together during its 0-4 start to the season.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 2 Nov. 2026
  • As his vessel pulled up to a landing ramp on one of the islands — located just off the Antarctic Peninsula — Vanstreels and his fellow researchers immediately noticed bumps in the snow.
    — Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of bumps
Noun
  • Inurrieta-Martinez had facial bruises, including a black eye, in her mugshot.
    — Larry Seward, CBS News, 10 Nov. 2026
  • But as has been the case in every game this year, Georgia picked up some bumps and bruises along the way.
    — Connor Riley, AJC.com, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of bruises
Noun
  • Doctors eventually discovered three tumors in Lennox's head — one in his gums, one behind his eye and another near the base of his brain.
    — Sooji Nam, CBS News, 13 Nov. 2026
  • In contrast, people who opt for a lumpectomy — a surgery to remove breast tumors while preserving the remainder of the breast tissue — keep getting regular breast image screenings.
    — Anusha Subramanian, Vox, 10 Nov. 2026
Definition of tumors

Browse Nearby Words

nodule
nodules
Noel
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Cite this Entry

“Nodules.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nodules. Accessed 14 Nov. 2026.

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