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
  • Likewise, the idea behind the new Alliance is that forcing Hollywood’s biggest players to source a big chunk of content from outside would reenergize the market.
    — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Court papers filed in that lawsuit show that the loan was set up as a revolving line of credit that allowed Boston Finance Group to borrow chunks of money from CSNT over time.
    — Cristian Benavides, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of chunk
Noun
  • Each work takes its cues from Vodou spiritual practices in Haiti that are grounded in their African roots.
    — Hikmat Mohammed, ARTnews.com, 14 Oct. 2026
  • According to Snideman, the roots of the problem go back to when drivers paid vehicle licensing fees that helped fund critical services in San Mateo County.
    — Maddie White, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of root
Noun
  • Continue mixing until dough begins to come together in large clumps.
    — Martha Stewart, Martha Stewart, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The result, if done correctly, should appear tear-soaked but clump-free.
    — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of clump
Noun
  • The core mission of the SSC is to move personnel and material off amphibious ships.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 11 Oct. 2026
  • The market kept its core strands and added ProducerHub, InnoAsia, Doc Square and The A, and these drew people who had never attended a market before.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of core
Noun
  • Toasted hunks of homemade corn bread and pepitas make crispy finishers.
    — Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Sep. 2026
  • The room was modern-rustic, with cedar-plank walls, limestone floors, hunks of Utah rock crystals, and a private back terrace with an outdoor swing overlooking a brook that provides a soothing nocturnal soundtrack.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of hunk
Noun
  • But Williams, with her trademark video diaries, has distilled a vision of contemporary New York to its purest essence.
    — Dan Adler, Vanity Fair, 13 Oct. 2026
  • One wants to know her stories, but more than that one wants to know her essence.
    — Yiyun Li, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of essence
Noun
  • Nestled deep among the wads of shredded paper and other bric-a-brac, the occupants made not a squeak, concealed to anyone who looked through the carrier’s door.
    — Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Even after 25 years, Dave Willis and Matt Maiellaro’s series about an anthropomorphic milkshake, french fry container, and a wad of meat wasting their days in suburban New Jersey remains one of Adult Swim’s most recognizable properties.
    — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of wad
Noun
  • Your deep veins run within the muscles of your arms and legs, carrying most of the blood returning from your limbs to your heart.
    — Angela Haupt, Time, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Aware of the Simonson case in Minnesota, Wisconsin investigators identified one of the victims as Simonson, in part through a distinctive tattoo on her ankle featuring a heart and her daughter Alyssa's name.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 16 Oct. 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 18 Oct. 2026.

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