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nubbin

noun

ˈnə-bən How to pronounce nubbin (audio)
Definition of nubbinnext
1
as in speck
a very small piece had only a nubbin of crayon left

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in root
the central part or aspect of something under consideration this nubbin of the intelligence report is the prediction that the country's government will soon fall

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 nubbin Secchi’s ragù is the opposite of bouncy meat nubbins bobbing in tomato sauce. — Chris Morocco, Bon Appetit Magazine, 16 Apr. 2025 Double-tapping the nubbin now pops up a menu with volume and microphone controls and voice typing. — PCMAG, 17 Jan. 2025 Ground nubbins of paprika, cumin, sage and black pepper that have moldered into flavorless, colored molecules. — Scott Hocker, theweek, 23 Dec. 2024 Heffernan, a gravely captivating newcomer, wraps each expression and gesture around a hard little nubbin of distrust. — Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nubbin
  1. speck
  2. root
  3. fleck
  4. heart
  5. bit
  6. core
  7. particle
  8. kernel
Noun
  • The period is 2006, when the golden age of streamable content is barely a speck on the media horizon.
    — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 25 Sep. 2026
  • To make matters worse, the Houthis have captured new terrain in Yemen and acquired Perim Island, a speck of land inside the Bab el-Mandeb chokepoint that better positions the Yemeni militia to intercept oil tankers.
    — Daniel DePetris, Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of speck
Noun
  • Supporters of the new approach say mandatory treatment addresses root causes, while research shows Housing First helps people remain housed.
    — Laura Ungar, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026
  • The clothing brand, known for its buttery soft denim pants, started in 2002 with the aim to combine British roots with the energy of New York City’s fashion with a modern twist.
    — Noelle Alviz-Gransee, Kansas City Star, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of root
Noun
  • Add the torn basil and process just until incorporated -- there will be flecks of green in the mixture.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Some kits include stone-like chips or flecks to scatter over the surface of the wet paint for a realistic effect.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of fleck
Noun
  • The masked suspect who fatally shot a beloved barber while trying to steal his handmade Miami Cuban bracelet outside a Queens strip club ran off empty-handed, but left those who knew the victim with an unfathomable hole in their hearts.
    — Rebecca White, New York Daily News, 25 Sep. 2026
  • The most effective nonprofits lead with both heart and purpose while staying focused on delivering meaningful results.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of heart
Noun
  • That bit of advice was as fruitful to Larry Golden as that swimming scholarship.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 27 Sep. 2026
  • By balancing the speed of physical random number generators with the clarity of their signals, the new device principle, in theory, can achieve processing speed yielding high bit-rate with signal clarity and stochasticity.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of bit
Noun
  • The experiments were not designed to demonstrate ignition or fusion gain, but to isolate and test this core compression principle.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Shown on a 35mm print at Lincoln Center, this North American premiere was warmly received, with the core cast all on hand.
    — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of core
Noun
  • The rule also translates to an extra 90 tons a year of soot particles and 4,870 additional tons a year of smog components such as nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds emitted into the air in coming years, experts say.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 29 Sep. 2026
  • When transitioning from hard flooring to rugs or carpets, the system automatically adjusts suction levels and modifies its brush roll behavior to maximize particle pickup while preventing hair entanglements around the main rollers.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of particle
Noun
  • At this point, the idea of reuniting is just a kernel, but the cameras were rolling pretty early in advance as part of the band’s LPTV YouTube channel.
    — Brian Welk, IndieWire, 21 Sep. 2026
  • The grain is smaller than wheat, for example, and farmers and researchers still are finding the best ways to adapt farm equipment so the kernel isn’t damaged during harvest.
    — Joshua A. Bickel, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of kernel

Browse Nearby Words

nub
nubbin
nubbins
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Cite this Entry

“Nubbin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nubbin. Accessed 1 Oct. 2026.

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