1
as in chunks
a small uneven mass
throw a nub of butter into the frying pan
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in roots
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 nubs
Ephemera directs the brain to the tiniest concrete nubs of consciousness, calming the quaking mind and bringing us back to ourselves.
—
Literary Hub, 20 May 2026
How To Thoroughly Clean Your Bath Mat Cloth Cloth bath mats typically feature nubs, twists, or loops of fabric.
—Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 12 May 2026
Her trick is to finely chop the ginger, instead of grating it, so there are spicy-sweet nubs in each bite.
—Nina Moskowitz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 Mar. 2026
Best Nylabone chew toys for puppies This three-pack includes one softer starter bone with nubs that are great for teething, one slightly tougher bone to move onto and one edible bone.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2026
Legs were wound down to nubs and heads inflated to egregious proportions.
—Andrew Norman Wilson, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
Fumbling with the plastic nubs can be painful and frustrating.
—Zoe Gates, Outside, 28 Oct. 2025
This wooden foot massager roller features an arched design and rows of nubs to hit different acupressure points to provide relief.
—L. Daniela Alvarez, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Sep. 2025
Literary Hub, 20 May 2026
How To Thoroughly Clean Your Bath Mat Cloth Cloth bath mats typically feature nubs, twists, or loops of fabric.
—Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 12 May 2026
Her trick is to finely chop the ginger, instead of grating it, so there are spicy-sweet nubs in each bite.
—Nina Moskowitz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 Mar. 2026
Best Nylabone chew toys for puppies This three-pack includes one softer starter bone with nubs that are great for teething, one slightly tougher bone to move onto and one edible bone.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2026
Legs were wound down to nubs and heads inflated to egregious proportions.
—Andrew Norman Wilson, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
Fumbling with the plastic nubs can be painful and frustrating.
—Zoe Gates, Outside, 28 Oct. 2025
This wooden foot massager roller features an arched design and rows of nubs to hit different acupressure points to provide relief.
—L. Daniela Alvarez, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nubs
Noun
-
And the green, gorgeous Honeydew Smash ($19) boasts the gem-like tint of Midori Melon Liqueur, made with both Dos Hombres Tequila and Mezcal and finished with a garnish of fruity melon chunks.—
Amy Drew Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 June 2026
-
Red Velvet Cake Batter is loaded with massive chunks of red velvet cake and swirls of cream cheese frosting.—
Tristan Graziano,
Charlotte Observer,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
The nonalcoholic Racine is designed entirely around roots—ginger, vetiver, turmeric, liquorice—while the Feuille cocktail focuses solely on leaves, blending mint, blue spirulina, blackcurrant bud, aloe vera, and patchouli.—
Lane Nieset,
Condé Nast Traveler,
4 June 2026
-
Evergreen is again hosting this student-run fest with some celebrity shine on its headliner, and a bevy of performers that reinforce Colorado’s identity as a roots-music haven.—
John Wenzel,
Denver Post,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
Plant the clumps along a sunny or partly sunny border.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
31 May 2026
-
This time of year pollen can frequently be seen blowing through the air and forming clumps on the ground, as trees shed pollen as part of the reproductive process.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
For families The hotel has a kids club with supervised activities so that parents can dine, have spa treatments or shop to their hearts’ content.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
Our hearts go out to Joe's family, friends and the generations of neighbors who loved him.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
Three concrete cores bear the primary loads of the museum, freeing the gallery floors from interior columns and enabling long, uninterrupted exhibition spaces inside the museum.—
Bridget Borgobello
May 30,
New Atlas,
30 May 2026
-
Extreme bulks up the graphics processing power with the B390, containing 12 Xe cores.—
Michael Kan,
PC Magazine,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
Not as punishment, but to better know our playing grounds and appreciate the big and small things—like freeing wads of vegetation from an undercarriage—that turn a field into a stage.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
1 May 2026
-
Cubans have long been accustomed to shopping with wads of cash stuffed into bags after compounding bouts of soaring inflation.—
Prashant Rao,
semafor.com,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The sugars in corn kernels break down very fast, turning your corn unpleasantly starchy.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
2 June 2026
-
Fill the kernels into the removable lid and dump them straight into the bowl, place a slab of butter on top, and the butter melts through the grates seamlessly in the microwave.—
Alaina Chou,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
Bieber’s face artfully dotted with globs of lotion.—
Lucy Feldman,
Time,
6 May 2026
-
The chemicals made their way into Lake Apopka, turning the crystal clear waters into a pea-green soup filled with globs of gooey algae.—
Stephen Hudak,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nubs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nubs. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
