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
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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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of thumbing
Israel, a small nation dependent on our country for military support, is thumbing its nose at us, the most powerful country in the world.
—
Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 17 Sep. 2025
Today, Lone Star state legislators are thumbing their noses at the longstanding political norm, followed by every other state, of waiting until the next census before redrawing their congressional districts.
—Mercury News Editorial, Mercury News, 15 Aug. 2025
The software update is basically thumbing their noses at the ITC ruling.
—PC Magazine, 11 Feb. 2025
Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 17 Sep. 2025
Today, Lone Star state legislators are thumbing their noses at the longstanding political norm, followed by every other state, of waiting until the next census before redrawing their congressional districts.
—Mercury News Editorial, Mercury News, 15 Aug. 2025
The software update is basically thumbing their noses at the ITC ruling.
—PC Magazine, 11 Feb. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thumbing
Verb
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Several Vanderpump Rules alumni aren't hitching their wagons to The Valley.—
Samantha Stutsman,
PEOPLE,
15 Nov. 2025
-
Getting stuck in some remote native village for 36 days while hitching rides.—
Corky Carroll,
Oc Register,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The scale of the Republican Party's triumph in 2024—taking the White House, flipping the Senate and maintaining control of the House—has sparked soul-searching within the Democratic Party over what went wrong, how to rebuild, and party leadership and direction.—
Mandy Taheri,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
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Democrats also performed well in one red state election, flipping two seats on the Georgia Public Service Commission.—
Julia Manchester,
The Hill,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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While its calf-skimming height is great for tucking in leggings and pants (therefore keeping hems dry in wet winter weather), its slim silhouette also fits seamlessly under wide-leg jeans and relaxed pants.—
Averi Baudler,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
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Jenner’s almost molten looking, body-skimming column dress featured liquidy copper sequins all over, cut with a plunging neckline and sculptural halter straps that crisscrossed at the collarbone to frame the décolletage.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
4 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Thumbing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thumbing. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.
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