NUBBIN Synonyms: 134 Similar and Opposite Words

nubbin

noun

ˈnə-bən

Definition of nubbin

as in speck

a very small piece had only a nubbin of crayon left

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Noun

Chips could be destroyed by even a speck of dust, so factories became impregnable clean rooms, their workers clad in bunny suits.

— Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
The source was generally in good condition, but mold spots and dense clusters of small white specks required careful treatment.

— Lin Ying-Hsuan, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of speck

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

In addition, since all this debris is moving at orbital velocity, a fleck of paint traveling in the opposite direction to an operational satellite can hit it at a speed in excess of Mach 47.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 22 Oct. 2026
As few as 10 cells, hidden in an infinitesimal fleck of feces, can contaminate raw milk and trigger a fatal infection.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of fleck

Noun

The sharpest character study lies in the potential recipient of Simon’s heart, a woman who has all but given up on having a future but then finds herself at the top of a transplant list, suddenly lucky enough to get a new life.

— Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2026
Ashley Padilla Padilla, who captured hearts as a star cast member of SNL this past year, made the room laugh with a toast full of jokes and references to her most notable sketches.

— Rebecca Schneid, Time, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of heart

Noun

That cute little feral furball was mean as hell and bit, scratched, and ultimately abandoned the family.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Nov. 2026
Toss with a fork or your hands to distribute, then knead in bowl a couple of times to bring dough together (some dry bits may remain).

— Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 Nov. 2026

Definition of bit

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

For example, two fluorescent particles positioned close together may appear as a single feature under a microscope.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 4 Nov. 2026
For example, homes can be made less likely to ignite with Class A fire-resistant roofs and ember-resistant vents that reduce the potential for burning particles to enter homes.

— Virginia Iglesias, The Conversation, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of particle

Noun

There's a kernel of truth to it; Ohtani was clearly limited by several injuries down the stretch, with a lengthy slump accompanying an increase in chase rate and swing and miss.

— Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
In their experiments, the team found silicon in the kernels before irradiation.

— Muskan Bhatia, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of kernel

Browse Nearby Words

nub

nubbin

nubbins

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Nubbin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nubbin. Accessed 7 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of nubbin

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

abandon

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

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

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

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

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Old-Timey Vehicles

The Words of the Week - Nov. 6

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes