as in chunks
a small uneven mass
toss a knob of butter into the frying pan
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Recent Examples of knobs
Schrader suggests wiping down cabinetry knobs or pulls, light switches, and doorknobs at least once a month to make your home more sanitary.
—
Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 5 Feb. 2026
For years, simple pine chests with large, circular knobs have been a dime a dozen at antique stores.
—Heather Bien, Martha Stewart, 31 Jan. 2026
Changing architectural details like the shower fittings, faucets, cabinet knobs and drawer pulls can make a basic bathroom look far more refined and considered.
—Nomita Vaish-Taylor, The Spruce, 31 Jan. 2026
Gas ovens pose a dangerous carbon monoxide risk that can lead to poisoning or death, while electric ovens can be a fire hazard, melting knobs or igniting nearby flammable items.
—Jonathan Limehouse, USA Today, 24 Jan. 2026
Young elephants pass us in the bush with fleshy knobs where there should be tails, the scars of crocodile bites from wading through deep rivers, and the Sitatunga have evolved long, splayed hooves to prevent them from getting stuck in the boggy wetland.
—Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 2026
Elsewhere, jolts of intensity come from human hands turning round knobs in real time.
—Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 14 Jan. 2026
That includes a simple, flat dashboard with traditional gauges and knobs with next to no contemporary accents.
—New Atlas, 13 Jan. 2026
These knobs have a sculptural visual and tactile design—plus, the ceramic knobs options are available in multiple colors and finishes, allowing a genuinely personal touch.
—Kristina McGuirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Jan. 2026
Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 5 Feb. 2026
For years, simple pine chests with large, circular knobs have been a dime a dozen at antique stores.
—Heather Bien, Martha Stewart, 31 Jan. 2026
Changing architectural details like the shower fittings, faucets, cabinet knobs and drawer pulls can make a basic bathroom look far more refined and considered.
—Nomita Vaish-Taylor, The Spruce, 31 Jan. 2026
Gas ovens pose a dangerous carbon monoxide risk that can lead to poisoning or death, while electric ovens can be a fire hazard, melting knobs or igniting nearby flammable items.
—Jonathan Limehouse, USA Today, 24 Jan. 2026
Young elephants pass us in the bush with fleshy knobs where there should be tails, the scars of crocodile bites from wading through deep rivers, and the Sitatunga have evolved long, splayed hooves to prevent them from getting stuck in the boggy wetland.
—Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 2026
Elsewhere, jolts of intensity come from human hands turning round knobs in real time.
—Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 14 Jan. 2026
That includes a simple, flat dashboard with traditional gauges and knobs with next to no contemporary accents.
—New Atlas, 13 Jan. 2026
These knobs have a sculptural visual and tactile design—plus, the ceramic knobs options are available in multiple colors and finishes, allowing a genuinely personal touch.
—Kristina McGuirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knobs
Noun
-
Other companies, including Amazon, Meta, and Pinterest — all of which have made major investments in AI — have recently announced plans to cut significant chunks of their workforce, indicating even more troubling days ahead.—
Victor Tangermann,
Futurism,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Indeed, some emergency routes have huge mountains of snowy ice chunks obstructing more than one lane of the road because the snowplows could not move the snow to the side of the road due to all of the bike lane obstacles .—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Manscaped’s ‘Hair Ballad’ Several ads trafficked in revulsion as an attention-getter, none more so than this one for a body shaver featuring various clumps of removed body hair singing with their little hairy mouths.—
Omar L. Gallaga,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
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Prevent Blocked Drainage Holes One of Martha's favorite ways to repurpose broken terracotta pots is by placing them in the bottom of her planters to keep drainage holes clear of clumps of dirt or vegetation.—
Michelle Mastro,
Martha Stewart,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Use those wads of wrapping paper leftover from a birthday, baby shower, or holiday bash to stuff the bottom and sides of the box and prevent shifting during shipping.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
25 Dec. 2025
-
Hanging ornaments with care can be one of the highlights of the holiday season, but untangling wads of string lights is far less enjoyable.—
Maggie Horton,
PEOPLE,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Inspired by both pre-Columbian cultures and modern scientific theories, Jensen made energetic diagrams of shapes, symbols, and numbers in loud complementary colors, using thick globs of paint; the results generate a fascinating friction.—
Brian Seibert,
New Yorker,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Caglianone took his lumps — most noticeably charted by his chase rate outside the strike zone — in short order.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
7 Feb. 2026
-
One easy trick can turn those misshapen lumps with scraggly edges into gorgeous, bakery-worthy treats.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Fumbling with the plastic nubs can be painful and frustrating.—
Zoe Gates,
Outside,
28 Oct. 2025
-
This wooden foot massager roller features an arched design and rows of nubs to hit different acupressure points to provide relief.—
L. Daniela Alvarez,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
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This cut has the coolness of a long, rock-and-roll shag, but floatier layers and romantic, face-framing pieces, or curtain bangs, to bring it into 2026.—
Loren Savini,
Allure,
14 Feb. 2026
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The score alternates between traditional ceremonial sounds and some jazz pieces by saxophonist Keïta Janota and Gaspard Gomis which frame the narration.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Its 20 rooms encompass nearly 8,500 square feet of living space and include five bedrooms, six full bathrooms, one half-bathroom, two laundry rooms, three stairways, two breakfast bars and gobs of closet space.—
Mike Klingaman,
Baltimore Sun,
3 Feb. 2026
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Other actors with Abdul-Mateen’s wide smile, soft voice, and broad shoulders may have just leaned on their looks to cover up their character’s least-likable moments — as if gobs of charm in one scene can erase the ugliness glimpsed in others.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Knobs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knobs. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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