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 To fix these issues scientists aim to go one layer deeper into the atom, from the electrons on the outside to the nucleus nestled within, and track how energy flips a single neutron between quantum states. — Jacek Krywko, Scientific American, 20 Aug. 2026 Sierra Canyon counters with an All-American nucleus while Harvard-Westlake, Marymount, Santa Margarita, Mira Costa, Redondo and Palisades are set to shine. — Steve Galluzzo, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2026 Zillions of electrons from atoms that make up Earth’s atmosphere get temporarily bounced away from the nucleus of zillions and zillions of atoms. — Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 9 Aug. 2026 Increasing security cooperation between Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Pakistan, and Türkiye could become the nucleus of a wider group, or just a framework for ad hoc coordination. — Dominic Dudley, semafor.com, 4 Aug. 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
  • Rosignoli also recommended the Museo Civico Naturalistico-Archeologico in Vicenza, which has finds from Lake Fimon and Teatro Berga, an actual Roman theater that once stood in the city center.
    — Julia Buckley, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
  • The Fever played without center Aliyah Boston, who was sidelined by a right leg injury.
    — Jay Cohen, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of center
Noun
  • Earlier this year, a Supreme Court decision weakened a core provision of the Voting Rights Act, threatening Black political representation across the South.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
  • The Picture of Dorian Gray An enchanted portrait and a life of debauchery are at the core of this lavish literary horror by Oscar Wilde.
    — Caroline Rogers, Southern Living, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of core
Noun
  • Along with trying to shave the Republican advantage in the district's dozen-plus rural counties, Bohannan is also trying to gain a foothold in its more urban and suburban hubs.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026
  • The Santa Fe Plaza, the center of the original Spanish walled city, remains the cultural hub of downtown.
    — Dan Fellner, AZCentral.com, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of hub
Noun
  • The way the central couple navigates the twists, turns, roadblocks and unforced errors that entangle their budding relationship is the beating heart of these films.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The approval was based on results from a trial that showed Mounjaro outperformed Trulicity in reducing the risk of major heart events.
    — Ken Alltucker, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of heart
Noun
  • Drivers in the Iranian capital of Tehran are experiencing long lines at gas stations and temporary fuel shortages, according to Iranian news agencies, although authorities have insisted the overall fuel supply chain remains stable.
    — Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The precedent for what happens when that capital moves quickly is March 2020, when a rapid unwind of leveraged positions contributed to a breakdown of Treasury-market liquidity severe enough to require Federal Reserve intervention.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of capital
Noun
  • The essence has a high concentration of PDRN, which promotes cellular repair and collagen production, plus niacinamide and copper peptides to leave your skin firmer and smoother.
    — Essence Wiley, InStyle, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The concept art is meant to capture the essence of the project and is not intended to depict final details and design of the bridge.
    — Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of essence
Noun
  • The popular theatre was a cultural mecca that drew thousands to its operas, ballets and other public events, and hosted legendary greats including Maria Callas and Franco Zeffirelli.
    — Irene S. Levine, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
  • The long-standing problem is that Skid Row is both a social service center and a mecca of drugs and other vices, with traps on every block.
    — Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
Definition of mecca
Noun
  • Paul Johnson, former director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, attributes the root cause to sluggish economic growth.
    — , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Over the next several decades, Mexican American families poured in and set down roots.
    — Marissa J. Lang, NPR, 28 Aug. 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 30 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on nucleus

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about nucleus

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