Thesaurus results for NUB

nub

noun

ˈnəb

Definition of nub

as in chunk

a small uneven mass throw a nub of butter into the frying pan

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in root

the central part or aspect of something under consideration the nub of the argument is that the intelligence agencies failed the country

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 nub Lenovo's classic keyboard and TrackPoint (the trademark red nub that works as a joystick-like pointer controller) are as good as ever. — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 15 June 2026 The high-tops were essentially created as high-top basketball shoes with nubs tailored to astroturf, and a zippered tongue features an additional velcro layer at the top. — Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 9 June 2026 The neighborhood/area José Ignacio is a tiny nub of a peninsula jutting into the Atlantic about two and a half hours by car from downtown Montevideo. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026 Ephemera directs the brain to the tiniest concrete nubs of consciousness, calming the quaking mind and bringing us back to ourselves. — Literary Hub, 20 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for nub

Recent Examples of Synonyms for nub

Noun

If Ryan follows through on his pledge, the New York Democrat could be out a sizable chunk of campaign funds.

— Max Grinstein, The Washington Examiner, 16 July 2026
These days, that can account for a major chunk of the stock's underperformance.

— Zev Fima, CNBC, 16 July 2026

Definition of chunk

Noun

While its roots go back to Don the Beachcomber in Hollywood in the 1930s, tiki culture blossomed after World War II, when American soldiers came back from the Pacific theater with stories of tropical islands.

— Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 18 July 2026
Unlike a razor, which simply cuts hair at the surface, an epilator removes it from the root by mechanically plucking multiple hairs at once.

— Iman Balagam, Vogue, 17 July 2026

Definition of root

Noun

The core interest aside from this being the final of a six-week long competition that only happens every four years is the country of Messi’s birth taking on the country that raised him.

— James Horncastle, New York Times, 19 July 2026
Since the brain needs to drop its core temperature by roughly a degree to descend into deep sleep, a bedroom temperature of around 65-67 degrees Fahrenheit will help.

— Gavin Escott, USA Today, 18 July 2026

Definition of core

Noun

There may be a nice bunch of grapes, a couple slices of melon, and a hunk of juicy homegrown tomato.

— Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 16 July 2026
His torso and thighs grow eye-poppingly muscular beneath their skimpy fur-and-leather togs—a development that does not go unnoticed by a warrior named Red Hair, who plucks the young hunk from his post and tosses him into the prime time of the gladiator pit.

— Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 15 June 2026

Definition of hunk

Noun

Laura felt the rival’s ghost or essence spring away from her, as surely as if repelled.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 July 2026
There’s a certain je ne se quai to French girl dressing that’s hard to pin down, but Karlie Kloss’s latest look captures its essence perfectly.

— Kaitlin Clapinski, InStyle, 11 July 2026

Definition of essence

Noun

Walker wore his Cardinals hat backward, chewed a big wad of bubble gum and reveled afterward in flashing his imitation Liberty Bell bling, the champions chain presented by Ryan Howard.

— Dan Gelston, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2026
Walker chewed a big wad of bubble gum and wore his cap backward just like Hall of Famer and Derby great Ken Griffey Jr.

— CBS News, CBS News, 14 July 2026

Definition of wad

Noun

England went ahead of Argentina in the 55th minute of their semifinal, but Messi found another gear and set up both late goals to break England’s hearts and keep Argentina’s run alive.

— Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 18 July 2026
The change of heart partly hinges on Camille’s conversations with her husband, Robert, who is freaking out over what’s been happening to Juliette.

— Noel Murray, Vulture, 17 July 2026

Definition of heart

Browse Nearby Words

nuanced

nub

nubbin

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Nub.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nub. Accessed 21 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of nub

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on nub

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

dog days

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Games & Quizzes