nub

noun

ˈnəb How to pronounce nub (audio)
Definition of nubnext
1
as in chunk
a small uneven mass throw a nub of butter into the frying pan

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

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 The outsole is made of abrasion-resistant, flexible and recyclable rubber and sports hybrid nubs, grooves and sawtooth traction patterns. — Scott Kramer, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026 LaCrosse Alpha Deck Boot $140 The best thing about this rubber boot is the exterior nub on its heel. — Kris Millgate, USA Today, 1 July 2026 Slugs and snails are some of the peskiest garden visitors that can riddle plant leaves with ragged holes or chew tender crops like lettuce down to nubs overnight. — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 June 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for nub
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nub
  1. chunk
  2. root
  3. clump
  4. core
  5. hunk
  6. essence
  7. wad
  8. heart
Noun
  • That group and other environmental organizations have also argued the chunk of the Sacramento Valley that could soon be flooded is composed of rich oak woodland habitat occupied by an untold number of wildlife species.
    — Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy spent a good chunk of his weekly visit with reporters detailing breakdowns that led to last weekend’s crushing loss at Denver.
    — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of chunk
Noun
  • Becoming the first Latino directly elected to California’s highest office is a distinction Becerra was reluctant to promote on the campaign trail, preferring instead to focus on his humble roots.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2026
  • The root of Wilson’s resentment is that he was charmed by the pods version of Wilnie, who was temporarily free from real-life concerns and whose only job was to banter with him through a wall.
    — Emma Sharpe, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of root
Noun
  • Created for more than 800% more volume in a single application, the formula delivers soft, clump-free lift.
    — Vogue, Vogue, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Some stages act on entire clumps of particles to slow them down, while others act within a clump to keep it from spreading out.
    — George Musser, Quanta Magazine, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of clump
Noun
  • Meanwhile, the MacBook Neo's iPhone-grade chip outperformed Googlebooks’ processors in single-core performance, while losing out on multi-core performance by varying (but overall large) margins.
    — Joe Osborne, PC Magazine, 24 Oct. 2026
  • As that enormous dome thinned through the Holocene, its margin withdrew up onto Baffin Island, and what’s left today is the deflated core of something that was once two miles thick.
    — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of core
Noun
  • Sheathed in a mahogany crust, my hunk of rib eye is flushed pink.
    — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Getting paid to dress up, ride horses, and playact alongside long-haired hunks and red-lipped princesses?
    — Alessandra Schade, Vanity Fair, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of hunk
Noun
  • Joseph Zada is beyond impressive in a highly demanding role that pushes him to the limit physically and emotionally, perfectly capturing the essence of Haymitch with all the sympathy, charm and bitterness Woody Harrelson brought to the role.
    — Zack Sharf, Variety, 29 Oct. 2026
  • First, the essence of each brand tends to manifest in aesthetics and interaction models.
    — Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of essence
Noun
  • The architects picked numbers out of a bowl to determine which of the 100 sites was theirs, and before flying home they were paid for their designs with wads of cash.
    — Fred A. Bernstein, Architectural Digest, 4 Nov. 2026
  • His main instinct is to pull out a wad of bills and fling it in their faces.
    — Mosi Reeves, Rolling Stone, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of wad
Noun
  • During a recent interview with Fox News Digital, James, 32, opened up about how the project became a deeply personal way to reconnect with Bill, who passed away in February 2017 following heart surgery.
    — Ashley Hume , Larry Fink, FOXNews.com, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Sola Media managing director Solveig Langeland said mixing humor and heart has always sat at the center of the studio’s storytelling, backed by its skill at bringing characters to life through strong voice casts.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of heart

Browse Nearby Words

nuanced
nub
nubbin
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Cite this Entry

“Nub.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nub. Accessed 8 Nov. 2026.

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