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2
as in root
the central part or aspect of something under consideration
the nub of the argument is that the intelligence agencies failed the country
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of nub
If not for the rhythmic motion of the stylus’s nub against the touch screen, he could have been mistaken for someone meditating.
—
Matt Alt, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
These caterpillars typically riddle plant leaves with lacy holes or chew entire leaves down to nubs.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 June 2025
Eventually, just like a real pencil, the sculpture will be just a nub with an eraser—and both the Higgins family and Ingvoldstad are okay with that.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 June 2025
The grisly damage included fingers on his right hand that had been reduced to nubs.
—Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 27 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nub
Matt Alt, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
These caterpillars typically riddle plant leaves with lacy holes or chew entire leaves down to nubs.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 June 2025
Eventually, just like a real pencil, the sculpture will be just a nub with an eraser—and both the Higgins family and Ingvoldstad are okay with that.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 June 2025
The grisly damage included fingers on his right hand that had been reduced to nubs.
—Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 27 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nub
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nub
Noun
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For the second time in the last three season, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow will miss a large chunk of the season.—
Michael Gallagher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
-
In the worst-case scenario, a collision could smash a satellite into many more pieces of space debris, which each then go on to collide with more satellites, which produces more chunks of space junk, and so on and so forth.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
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This Chardonnay is both a step forward and a nod to its roots, Myers says, as Chardonnay was one of the first grapes that founder Justin Baldwin planted in his vineyard.—
Jeanette Hurt,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
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The problem is that standing water in the soil deprives roots of oxygen.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
13 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Add butter and pulse until the mix clumps together to form pea-size balls.—
Gretchen McKay,
Twin Cities,
12 Sep. 2025
-
If the plaque weakens and breaks apart, large clumps are released into the blood stream, and a large clump can block an artery, completely shutting off blood flow and causing a heart attack.—
Bryant Stamford,
Louisville Courier Journal,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Since World War I, the American right has held together as a political movement by prioritizing a conservative vision of white Christian values and private enterprise, while shielding those immutable core principles with expendable public‑facing ideals.—
Allan J. Lichtman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Biglari’s core demands were to stop opening new stores entirely, eliminate the development team to save money, and focus exclusively on improving existing store operations rather than expansion.—
Lily Mae Lazarus,
Fortune,
18 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Smoothing round poppy seeds and sea salt—which do the gentle buffing—come suspended in a hunk of detoxifying French blue clay, nourishing olive fruit oil, and zingy peppermint essential oil, the latter of which wakes you up better than any iPhone alarm.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
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When this world was catastrophically interrupted by a hunk of space trash some 30 million years later, in the cinematic end-Cretaceous mass extinction, the mammals would inherit not only the Earth but the climate of the dinosaurs as well.—
Peter Brannen,
Quanta Magazine,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Bobby Hart, who along with Tommy Boyce, penned and produced some of the Monkees’ greatest hits not only made a vital contribution to the popular success of the Monkees, but even more importantly to the essence, the very spirit of the entire venture.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
14 Sep. 2025
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The result is a collection that maintained the essence of IVY moda’s DNA while boldly stepping into new territory and appealing to a new generation of fashion fans.—
Lee Sharrock,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The boy had a wad of cash in his hand, which De Jager accepted without counting, still stunned.—
Jordan Greene,
People.com,
28 Aug. 2025
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The New York Times reports that more associates of Mayor Eric Adams are likely to face corruption charges — and that was before an explosive report in The CITY that an Adams campaign advisor tried to give a reporter a wad of cash stuffed inside a bag of potato chips.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
21 Aug. 2025
Noun
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This isn't the first time a dog with an unusual breed mix has melted hearts online.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
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Researchers have previously noted an elevated but rare risk of myocarditis, or inflamed heart muscle, in young men in particular.—
Annika Kim Constantino,
CNBC,
18 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nub.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nub. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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