nucleus

noun

ˈnü-klē-əs How to pronounce nucleus (audio)
Definition of nucleusnext
1
as in center
a thing or place that is of greatest importance to an activity or interest a college campus that was a nucleus of opposition to the war

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in core
the central part or aspect of something under consideration the nucleus of the movement's methodology has always been passive resistance

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 nucleus Celebrini, Misa, Stenberg, and fellow forwards Will Smith and Igor Chernyshov, defenseman Sam Dickinson, and goalie Yaroslav Askarov figure to form the nucleus of future Sharks teams. — Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 27 June 2026 Dybantsa is the most heralded player within the Wizards’ young nucleus. — Josh Robbins, New York Times, 25 June 2026 The researchers found that surviving fibroblasts developed significantly larger nuclei after depletion—a possible sign of cellular stress—and that the fibroblast network covering the dermal space shrank by only about 10%. — Peter Jurich, Hartford Courant, 22 June 2026 Neutral atom quantum computing is based on our ability to use lasers to cool individual atoms and trap them in a grid of overlapping light beams, with the qubit being stored in the spin of the nucleus. — ArsTechnica, 17 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for nucleus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nucleus
  1. center
  2. core
  3. hub
  4. heart
  5. capital
  6. essence
  7. mecca
  8. root
Noun
  • Neto bobbled the ball for an error, though, and Contreras crushed Johnson’s next pitch for his 20th homer, a 446-foot shot to left-center that left his bat at 112 mph and gave Boston a 5-3 lead.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • The incident happened less than a week after another child was found dead inside a car at a Plantation early learning center last Monday.
    — David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 6 July 2026
Definition of center
Noun
  • The core party at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum will feature performances by acts including the Smashing Pumpkins, Maren Morris and Anthony Ramos, according to the America 250 website.
    — Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 4 July 2026
  • The most severe risk is heat stroke, which occurs when the body's cooling mechanism fails entirely, potentially driving core body temperatures to 103 degrees Fahrenheit or higher within minutes.
    — Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 4 July 2026
Definition of core
Noun
  • Shenzhen already has a reputation as one of China's major technology hubs.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026
  • Deep Light is, of course, not the only hub for cinematographers and aspiring cinematographers online.
    — Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 4 July 2026
Definition of hub
Noun
  • An ice sculpture of a heart includes a tube through the ice arrow that pierces the heart.
    — Peter Larsen, Oc Register, 10 July 2026
  • However, there has been discussion about keeping the 65-foot heart that has been a major photo-op for the thousands of fans that have come to Fan Fest.
    — Rashad Alexander, Kansas City Star, 10 July 2026
Definition of heart
Noun
  • The fund will give Arada a new source of capital to fund its ambitions at a time when lenders and investors have become more cautious about Gulf real estate in the wake of the Iran war.
    — Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 7 July 2026
  • That capital is now tied down rather than being deployed for investment or expansion.
    — Ariel Cohen, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
Definition of capital
Noun
  • The intimate hotel opens for the season in mid-to-late April, and encapsulates the essence of Broad Street, which is known for hyper-local boutiques and restaurants.
    — Maya Kachroo-Levine, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026
  • At nighttime, my typical routine is a double-cleanse, essence, Prismatic+, retinol, and richer cream.
    — Sarah Han, Allure, 6 July 2026
Definition of essence
Noun
  • As one of the darkest spots in the lower 48, Grand Staircase-​Escalante is also a mecca for stargazers, with much of its acreage ranked as Bortle Class 1—​​meaning that on clear nights the Milky Way is bright enough to cast noticeable shadows and even appears to have three dimensions.
    — Nicole Phelps, Vogue, 25 June 2026
  • Catawba County, along with other parts of North Carolina, have become a mecca for data center construction as demand for AI tools has increased.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 25 June 2026
Definition of mecca
Noun
  • But many housing experts point to local zoning and red tape as the root of the slowdown in homebuilding.
    — Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 11 July 2026
  • For items like green onions, trim the root end and remove the outer layer and wash thoroughly under running water.
    — Sara Moniuszko, USA Today, 10 July 2026
Definition of root

Browse Nearby Words

nuclei
nucleus
nude
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Cite this Entry

“Nucleus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nucleus. Accessed 11 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on nucleus

Nglish: Translation of nucleus for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about nucleus

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