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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
  • 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
  • Calcium shows up as bright white specks on the coronary artery images.
    — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of speck
Noun
  • Legion targets contested airspace The system’s roots stretch back to Lockheed Martin’s earlier IRST work.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Many South Koreans believe the government needs to do more to address the root causes behind the epidemic.
    — Will Barker, TheWeek, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of root
Noun
  • 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
  • Hundreds of flecks of sequins caught the light as Jenner made her way down the red carpet, glittering from every angle.
    — Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of fleck
Noun
  • To lead a child to a gas chamber demands a hardness of heart that must be cultivated.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 Sep. 2026
  • To Longwell, such statements suggest that voters don’t want politicians to force them to choose between their hearts and their fears.
    — Isaac Arnsdorf, New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of heart
Noun
  • With the Moon in your sign squaring Mercury in your career sector, a comment, reaction, or bit of feedback could land harder than expected.
    — Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 20 Sep. 2026
  • Seeing these guys in person definitely is a little bit cooler than on TV.
    — Marc Topkin, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of bit
Noun
  • Related Stories That’s around four times the average budget of Spain’s core subsidy fund at the country‘s ICAA Film Board.
    — John Hopewell, Variety, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Waymo plans to operate in and around Charlotte’s uptown core and expand gradually over time, the company said.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of core
Noun
  • This holds even when the two particles are separated by a large distance from each other, prompting Einstein to call this behavior ‘spooky’.
    — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 15 Sep. 2026
  • But those procedures can also send plastic particles down the drain — waste that South Florida’s wastewater systems aren’t designed to catch.
    — Laurie Mermet, Miami Herald, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of particle
Noun
  • 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
  • When the pressure is released, the mold then snaps up like a kernel of popcorn to the final size of a midsole, with the tiny holes expanding to the brand’s signature CloudTec pattern.
    — Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of kernel

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nubbin
nubbins
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Cite this Entry

“Nubbin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nubbin. Accessed 22 Sep. 2026.

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