as in summary
marked by the use of few words to convey much information or meaning
a thumbnail outline of the plot of the novel
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of thumbnail
Click on the thumbnail image to see what that looks like.
—
Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 27 Aug. 2018
Between the two fences that separate Reggie’s enclosure from the public is a sign with the thumbnail version of his remarkable journey to the Los Angeles Zoo 15 years ago today.
—Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2022
What follows is a thumbnail survey of prison museums throughout the United States, selected for their geographic spread; some are widely known, while others are small gems that deserve a closer look.
—Washington Post, 20 Jan. 2022
So the thumbnail version that gets repeated is that the concept of telework was invented by a guy called Jack Nilles, who was a NASA engineer who’s actually still alive.
—The Politics Of Everything, The New Republic, 13 Jan. 2021
See All Example Sentences for thumbnail
Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 27 Aug. 2018
Between the two fences that separate Reggie’s enclosure from the public is a sign with the thumbnail version of his remarkable journey to the Los Angeles Zoo 15 years ago today.
—Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2022
What follows is a thumbnail survey of prison museums throughout the United States, selected for their geographic spread; some are widely known, while others are small gems that deserve a closer look.
—Washington Post, 20 Jan. 2022
So the thumbnail version that gets repeated is that the concept of telework was invented by a guy called Jack Nilles, who was a NASA engineer who’s actually still alive.
—The Politics Of Everything, The New Republic, 13 Jan. 2021
See All Example Sentences for thumbnail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thumbnail
Adjective
-
Not surprisingly, given the risk of summary execution, many had initial doubts.—
Yossi Melman,
ProPublica,
7 Aug. 2025
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The young man risked beatings that would end in summary execution for sneaking in extra food to prisoners who were supposed to be the empire’s work-and-starve-to-death slaves.—
Charles Pellegrino,
Rolling Stone,
6 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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This pick comes with a concise summary that gives you insight into the rigor of quality research and my approach to picking stocks.—
David Trainer,
Forbes.com,
31 July 2025
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Draft concise speaker notes, of a maximum length of 40 words, to accompany each slide.—
Bernard Marr,
Forbes.com,
25 July 2025
Adjective
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July’s consumer price index held steady at 2.7% year over year — slightly below expectations — offering a brief sense of relief.—
Benzinga,
Freep.com,
16 Aug. 2025
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After a brief evaluation, he was escorted by a trainer off the sideline and into the Dolphins’ locker room.—
David Furones,
Sun Sentinel,
16 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Thumbnail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thumbnail. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.
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