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 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 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 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
  • The deadly flash flood in Nepal on Wednesday was likely caused by a huge chunk of a glacier that broke off and temporarily dammed a river, according to preliminary investigations by scientists.
    — Sibi Arasu, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
  • And the applicant agreed to put the biggest chunk of the design — initially pitched as around 230 apartments on the property’s southern half — on ice.
    — Mark Dee August 27, Idaho Statesman, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of chunk
Noun
  • Paul Johnson, former director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, attributes the root cause to sluggish economic growth.
    — , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Over the next several decades, Mexican American families poured in and set down roots.
    — Marissa J. Lang, NPR, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of root
Noun
  • This one grows in 3-foot-tall clumps that are soft blue-green in spring and early summer, changing to shades of orange, red and purple in fall.
    — Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Dig up the clump and cut the spreading root system into sections.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of clump
Noun
  • Earlier this year, a Supreme Court decision weakened a core provision of the Voting Rights Act, threatening Black political representation across the South.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
  • The Picture of Dorian Gray An enchanted portrait and a life of debauchery are at the core of this lavish literary horror by Oscar Wilde.
    — Caroline Rogers, Southern Living, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of core
Noun
  • Others are stewed with aromatics and oil to make a riotous take on XO sauce, funky and inky and complex, which gilds the hunks of squash under their corny beurre blanc.
    — Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2026
  • This hunk of hardware has no flywheel and employs seven wet multi-disc clutches, which enable it to skip gears as needed.
    — Caleb Jacobs, The Drive, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of hunk
Noun
  • The essence has a high concentration of PDRN, which promotes cellular repair and collagen production, plus niacinamide and copper peptides to leave your skin firmer and smoother.
    — Essence Wiley, InStyle, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The concept art is meant to capture the essence of the project and is not intended to depict final details and design of the bridge.
    — Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 24 Aug. 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
  • The way the central couple navigates the twists, turns, roadblocks and unforced errors that entangle their budding relationship is the beating heart of these films.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The approval was based on results from a trial that showed Mounjaro outperformed Trulicity in reducing the risk of major heart events.
    — Ken Alltucker, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of heart

Browse Nearby Words

nuanced
nub
nubbin
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Nub.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nub. Accessed 30 Aug. 2026.

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