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 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

Noun

Chicago has been considered the candy capital of the world for a good chunk of its history.

— Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026
In lieu of industry success, Hall spent large chunks of the past three decades living, performing, and otherwise working in obscurity in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, and other parts of East Asia.

— Jack Denton, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of chunk

Noun

Reid on Wednesday remembered a player who embraced his rural roots — Bailey grew up in Hog Hammock on Sapelo Island off the Georgia coast — and offered, ahem, a culinary tip.

— Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 21 Oct. 2026
The goddesses in these paintings have a serene air, with roots firmly anchored in the earth, but also a crown of leaves that sway with the wind.

— Tatiane de Assis, ARTnews.com, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of root

Noun

The calves struggled against a current thick with floating clumps of river plants.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
While the three were picking their way through a clump of trees at the far end of the cornfield, half a dozen does came out of the willows single file, walked under my platform within six yards of me, and started to feed.

— Al Dawson, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 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

Finish Skin Prep With a Toner or Essence After cleansing, a toning step can remove any leftover impurities from the pores and balance the skin’s pH level, while essences—which have a slightly thicker texture—tend to be more hydrating.

— Jenny Berg, Vogue, 19 Oct. 2026
Finding the essence of a scene does not always mean moving closer or showing more.

— Callum McLennan, Variety, 18 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

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 27 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of nub

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

milieu

Popular in Grammar & Usage

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

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

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

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

Popular

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

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes