Synonyms of thumbing

thumbing

verb

present participle of thumb

1

as in hitching

to travel by securing free rides

thought I'd thumb into town instead of paying for a cab

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hitching
• hitchhiking
• bumming
• hijacking
• stowing away
• carjacking

2

as in flipping

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

• flipping
• skimming
• riffling
• leafing
• scanning
• browsing
• dipping
• looking over
• glancing (at)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• studying
• poring (over)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of thumbing

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham is handing Ukraine the blueprints to a valuable piece of his country’s military technology, thumbing his nose at a Kremlin that says the United Kingdom is now a party in the conflict. — Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 24 Aug. 2026

Hawkins, by contrast, almost seems to be thumbing his nose at the whole concept of existing as a complex, nuanced human being. — Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 16 July 2026

In one scene, a pair of revellers dance naked just outside the fence of the Calvary Cemetery, thumbing their noses at the reaper while the Manhattan skyline towers in the distance. — Chris Wiley, New Yorker, 4 July 2026

That’s sacrilege on par with an Ohioan disowning football or a Texan recoiling at the smell of brisket, a Kentuckian thumbing his nose at college basketball. — Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 2 July 2026

For months, this young, rambunctious, and altogether infectious bunch played with house money, thumbing their collective noses at the idea of another year of rebuild futility. — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2026

Why did Lucas take the note from De Palma while thumbing his nose at studio suggestions? — Michael O’Donnell, The Atlantic, 10 Feb. 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

The software update is basically thumbing their noses at the ITC ruling. — PC Magazine, 11 Feb. 2025