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2
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
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Recent Examples of nub
If not for the rhythmic motion of the stylus’s nub against the touch screen, he could have been mistaken for someone meditating.
—
Matt Alt, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
These caterpillars typically riddle plant leaves with lacy holes or chew entire leaves down to nubs.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 June 2025
Eventually, just like a real pencil, the sculpture will be just a nub with an eraser—and both the Higgins family and Ingvoldstad are okay with that.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 June 2025
The grisly damage included fingers on his right hand that had been reduced to nubs.
—Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 27 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nub
Matt Alt, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
These caterpillars typically riddle plant leaves with lacy holes or chew entire leaves down to nubs.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 June 2025
Eventually, just like a real pencil, the sculpture will be just a nub with an eraser—and both the Higgins family and Ingvoldstad are okay with that.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 June 2025
The grisly damage included fingers on his right hand that had been reduced to nubs.
—Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 27 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nub
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nub
Noun
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Work continues to crack down on bots Work continues still to crack down on bots buying up chunks of tickets.—
Arpan Lobo,
Freep.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski are both set to miss a significant chunk of the season, while Dominic Solanke’s ankle injury is another cause for concern.—
James McNicholas,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
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This Chardonnay is both a step forward and a nod to its roots, Myers says, as Chardonnay was one of the first grapes that founder Justin Baldwin planted in his vineyard.—
Jeanette Hurt,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
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The problem is that standing water in the soil deprives roots of oxygen.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
13 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Their small bodies are tricky to differentiate from pond scum or sticky clumps of algae in the dark.—
Sophie Hartley,
IndyStar,
9 Sep. 2025
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One study uses a new astrophysical computer simulation that models turbulence within the cloud, causing fragmentation into smaller, star-forming clumps.—
Luke Keller,
Space.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Kirk mused about writing a book on the core tenets of MAGA.—
Eric Cortellessa,
Time,
11 Sep. 2025
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Here’s how the S&P 500 might react, based on the core monthly inflation, according to JPMorgan.—
Yeo Boon Ping,
CNBC,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
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This yuckster attitude was apparently contagious, because Gray herself got in on the act on a day in which she was scheduled to kiss the young hunk Christopher Atkins, who had a recurring role for one season as a camp counselor.—
Jordan Hoffman,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Sep. 2025
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But inside, slabs of colored glass, hunks of polished resin, and sundry material experiments gleam like mirages in the sunlight that streams in from the ceiling and windows.—
Hannah Martin,
Architectural Digest,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Bobby Hart, who along with Tommy Boyce, penned and produced some of the Monkees’ greatest hits not only made a vital contribution to the popular success of the Monkees, but even more importantly to the essence, the very spirit of the entire venture.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
14 Sep. 2025
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The result is a collection that maintained the essence of IVY moda’s DNA while boldly stepping into new territory and appealing to a new generation of fashion fans.—
Lee Sharrock,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The boy had a wad of cash in his hand, which De Jager accepted without counting, still stunned.—
Jordan Greene,
People.com,
28 Aug. 2025
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The New York Times reports that more associates of Mayor Eric Adams are likely to face corruption charges — and that was before an explosive report in The CITY that an Adams campaign advisor tried to give a reporter a wad of cash stuffed inside a bag of potato chips.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
21 Aug. 2025
Noun
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As the sun was setting, hundreds of North Texans — many clad in black — gathered with candles and posters in their hands and solidarity in their hearts.—
Shambhavi Rimal,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
10 Sep. 2025
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But roughly 20-30% of people who are infected develop severe symptoms, including a range of heart issues—such as heart failure, irregular heartbeat, or even death—and digestive issues—such as an enlarged esophagus or colon, which could cause problems with eating or going to the bathroom.—
Chantelle Lee,
Time,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nub.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nub. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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