1
as in hitched
to travel by securing free rides
thought I'd thumb into town instead of paying for a cab
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in flipped
to turn over pages in an idle or cursory manner
I thumbed through the book during the flight but was too distracted to really read it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of thumbed
House lawyers argued that Bannon had thumbed his nose at the committee and ignored the subpoena.
—
Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 9 Feb. 2026
Vonn thumbed her nose at the odds.
—Frederick Dreier, Outside, 9 Feb. 2026
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
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
Since then, several states have thumbed their nose at the order.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 21 Oct. 2025
Before Drew could say anything, Mike thumbed his collar and wandered off, still gazing at the color wheel.
—Literary Hub, 17 Oct. 2025
In short, Moscow sees Montenegro as both strategically valuable and an impudent upstart that has thumbed its nose at the Russian bear while genuflecting before NATO and Washington.
—Edward P. Joseph, Foreign Affairs, 22 Dec. 2016
Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 9 Feb. 2026
Vonn thumbed her nose at the odds.
—Frederick Dreier, Outside, 9 Feb. 2026
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
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
Since then, several states have thumbed their nose at the order.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 21 Oct. 2025
Before Drew could say anything, Mike thumbed his collar and wandered off, still gazing at the color wheel.
—Literary Hub, 17 Oct. 2025
In short, Moscow sees Montenegro as both strategically valuable and an impudent upstart that has thumbed its nose at the Russian bear while genuflecting before NATO and Washington.
—Edward P. Joseph, Foreign Affairs, 22 Dec. 2016
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thumbed
Verb
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After Season 9 ended with no couples getting hitched, will Season 10 finish up the same way?—
Rachel Choy,
Refinery29,
5 Feb. 2026
-
In the meantime, the data center will work on getting hitched to the grid.—
Sarah Henry,
AZCentral.com,
18 Jan. 2026
Verb
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That swing is similar to what transpired earlier in February after a special election for a state Senate seat in Texas, where the Democratic contender trounced their GOP rival and flipped a seat the party hasn't held since 1978.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
11 Feb. 2026
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For her winning run, Gremaud, a 26-year-old who has last year’s world championship title to go with her two Olympic golds, skied backward, then flipped twice while spinning once and nailed the landing.—
Eddie Pells,
Mercury News,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
My mind drifted to the World Rally Championship as the Duster skimmed across the surface with unexpected pace and stability.—
Fergus Scholes,
TheWeek,
30 Jan. 2026
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While Hudson sported a semi-sheer option that skimmed her ankles, Beckham opted for a more daring look, complete with a fashionable leg slit.—
Averi Baudler,
PEOPLE,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Thumbed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thumbed. Accessed 13 Feb. 2026.
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