NUBBLY Synonyms: 29 Similar and Opposite Words

nubbly

adjective

Definition of nubbly

as in nubby

having small pieces or lumps spread throughout the walls were painted with a nubbly paint that was supposed to give them an interesting texture

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

smooth

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 nubbly Lifting the lid revealed a small tart topped with a tongue of Spanish sea urchin, resting on a nubbly bed of cancha nuts. — Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 22 Sep. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for nubbly

Adjective

This sofa, upholstered in a nubby textile, similar to boucle or chenille fabric, is a structured alternative to the boneless couches running amok on Amazon—but it’s designed to be just as comfortable.

— Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 1 Sep. 2026
Rigatoni is our shape of choice for this recipe—its wide opening captures the nubby bits of sausage while its ridges hold onto the light, almost-creamy sauce.

— Martha Stewart, Martha Stewart, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of nubby

Adjective

Aside from an occasional shuffle or snuffle from my fellow campers, the night was draped in a thick blanket of stress-shrinking quiet.

— Heather Richardson, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Nov. 2026
The jet slammed nose-first like a missile into a busy Palm Beach County road, before erupting into flames and sending thick black smoke into the sky, dashcam video shows.

— Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of thick

Adjective

Look for signs of a bug infestation (like weevils or worms), a clumpy texture due to moisture, or a change in color (like a gray or yellow tone).

— Libby Monteith Minor, Southern Living, 1 Nov. 2026
The even mixing of the isotopes suggests that it was formed from fine dust grains rather than clumpy, coarser material.

— Keith Cooper, Space.com, 27 Sep. 2026

Definition of clumpy

Browse Nearby Words

nubbles

nubbly

nubby

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Nubbly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nubbly. Accessed 8 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of nubbly

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

cockamamie

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