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
McCain first thumbed the pages en route to the Tarkanian Classic, a notable high school tournament in Las Vegas.
—
Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 23 May 2026
Emin’s masterpiece thumbed its nose at a tradition of recumbent feminine flesh on tousled white sheets (think Titian’s Venus of Urbino, Manet’s Olympia, or any number of bosomy Lucian Freud nudes).
—Literary Hub, 21 Apr. 2026
Caleb Foster thumbed over his shoulder to move Cam Boozer.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 28 Mar. 2026
Since the late 1970s, victories at the bargaining table have been less frequent, and UFW leaders admit ranchers thumbed their noses during contract negotiations, daring them to strike.
—Marcos Breton, Sacbee.com, 24 Mar. 2026
When the Chicago Tribune went after him, stirring up the first of many federal, state, and local investigations into Robinson's activities, Noah thumbed his nose.
—Gail Sheehy, Vanity Fair, 20 Feb. 2026
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
Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 23 May 2026
Emin’s masterpiece thumbed its nose at a tradition of recumbent feminine flesh on tousled white sheets (think Titian’s Venus of Urbino, Manet’s Olympia, or any number of bosomy Lucian Freud nudes).
—Literary Hub, 21 Apr. 2026
Caleb Foster thumbed over his shoulder to move Cam Boozer.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 28 Mar. 2026
Since the late 1970s, victories at the bargaining table have been less frequent, and UFW leaders admit ranchers thumbed their noses during contract negotiations, daring them to strike.
—Marcos Breton, Sacbee.com, 24 Mar. 2026
When the Chicago Tribune went after him, stirring up the first of many federal, state, and local investigations into Robinson's activities, Noah thumbed his nose.
—Gail Sheehy, Vanity Fair, 20 Feb. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thumbed
Verb
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My boyfriend and Owen drove home, passing through the States, with a U-Haul hitched to the car.—
Miriam Toews,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
-
In 1985, a breeding population of the black-and-white Aedes albopictus mosquito hitched a ride on a Japanese tire shipment bound for Texas.—
Ross Andersen,
The Atlantic,
27 May 2026
Verb
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Turek flipped a state House district held by a Republican, while Wahls represents a Senate district that is solidly blue.—
Saige Miller,
NPR,
2 June 2026
-
In November, Mikie Sherrill (D) flipped the governor’s office, outperforming expectations and winning by more than 14 percentage points.—
Washington Post staff,
Washington Post,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
At the French Open Tuesday, the four-time Grand Slam champion staged an outfit reveal once again, striding out for her first-round match against Germany’s Laura Siegemund wearing a black corset and matching pleated, cascading skirt that skimmed over the clay.—
Ava Wallace,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
-
Osaka walked out at Court Suzanne-Lenglen wearing a black corset and matching pleated cascading skirt that skimmed over the red clay.—
Emile Nuh,
CNN Money,
27 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Thumbed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thumbed. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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