1
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 thumb
Instead of driving it away, King thumbed his nose at the neighbors and moved it into his front driveway.
—
Kansas City Star, 3 Feb. 2026
An agent in Massachusetts jabbed his finger and thumb into the neck and arteries of a young father who refused to be separated from his wife and 1-year-old daughter.
—Nicole Foy, ProPublica, 13 Jan. 2026
He was criticized for seemingly thumbing his nose at the NFL’s Rooney Rule and only interviewing four candidates before selecting Vrabel.
—Chad Graff, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Back during the height of covid, the Olde Mecklenburg Brewery thumbed its nose at social-distancing recommendations and crammed upwards of a thousand people into its beer garden for its annual Mecktoberfest.
—Theoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 31 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for thumb
Kansas City Star, 3 Feb. 2026
An agent in Massachusetts jabbed his finger and thumb into the neck and arteries of a young father who refused to be separated from his wife and 1-year-old daughter.
—Nicole Foy, ProPublica, 13 Jan. 2026
He was criticized for seemingly thumbing his nose at the NFL’s Rooney Rule and only interviewing four candidates before selecting Vrabel.
—Chad Graff, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Back during the height of covid, the Olde Mecklenburg Brewery thumbed its nose at social-distancing recommendations and crammed upwards of a thousand people into its beer garden for its annual Mecktoberfest.
—Theoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 31 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for thumb
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thumb
Verb
-
The cab would be abandoned and the trailer would be hitched to another truck, court documents show.—
Jim Woods,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Feb. 2026
-
After Season 9 ended with no couples getting hitched, will Season 10 finish up the same way?—
Rachel Choy,
Refinery29,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Busch has gotten good at smiling through such a nuisance, just like how Rory McIlroy became adept at politicking through questions about The Masters until that script flipped last year.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
15 Feb. 2026
-
The new plan would essentially flip the amount set aside for rental subsidies and the housing fund, increasing the amount for rental subsidies to $388,000 and dropping the housing fund to $54,777.—
Stacy Brandt,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Then Jason and Thor shower together, each lathering the other’s back and bums up with fewer orgasms than an old Herbal Essences commercial.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Rittenhouse admits to initially being bummed out to not be the murderer, only to quickly come around to preferring this outcome.—
Derek Lawrence,
HollywoodReporter,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
What can residents do to help leaf, trash collectors?—
Ariane Lange,
Sacbee.com,
19 Jan. 2026
-
On properties where no house was left, roses sprang to life and trees that had been charred started leafing again.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Houseplant pests typically hitchhike a ride into your home.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
14 Feb. 2026
-
In another extraordinary anecdote, Chang describes hitchhiking her way across remote China to a labor camp her father was being held in, to lift his spirits.—
Emily Feng,
NPR,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
How Carolyn Bessette wore a headband Carolyn Bessette delivered a master class in how versatile a headband can be, styling her long blonde hair straight and loose, in a sleek low ponytail, or gathered in a nape-skimming bun.—
Fiona Embleton,
Glamour,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Next week's slate of new releases certainly threatens to skim some profit off the top of Wuthering Heights and GOAT's returns, but doesn't seem poised to overtake them.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Feb. 2026
Video
When Body Parts Are Also Verbs
Head, shoulders, metaphors, and toes
Cite this Entry
“Thumb.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thumb. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
