1
as in speck
a very small piece
had only a nubbin of crayon left
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in root
the central part or aspect of something under consideration
this nubbin of the intelligence report is the prediction that the country's government will soon fall
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of nubbin
Secchi’s ragù is the opposite of bouncy meat nubbins bobbing in tomato sauce.
—
Chris Morocco, Bon Appetit Magazine, 16 Apr. 2025
Double-tapping the nubbin now pops up a menu with volume and microphone controls and voice typing.
—PCMAG, 17 Jan. 2025
Ground nubbins of paprika, cumin, sage and black pepper that have moldered into flavorless, colored molecules.
—Scott Hocker, theweek, 23 Dec. 2024
Heffernan, a gravely captivating newcomer, wraps each expression and gesture around a hard little nubbin of distrust.
—Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2024
Being a bit of a handy man in a fight himself, Father Ryan taught Frankie how to roll with a punch, how to upset a right swing with a left stab to his shoulder, and how to swing in with a right cross to the nubbin of the chin while his man was off keel.
—Westbrook Pegler, New York Daily News, 18 Jan. 2024
That changed at 1:03 a.m. on Dec. 5 when 192 giant lasers at the laboratory’s National Ignition Facility blasted a small cylinder about the size of a pencil eraser that contained a frozen nubbin of hydrogen encased in diamond.
—Kenneth Chang, BostonGlobe.com, 13 Dec. 2022
Chris Morocco, Bon Appetit Magazine, 16 Apr. 2025
Double-tapping the nubbin now pops up a menu with volume and microphone controls and voice typing.
—PCMAG, 17 Jan. 2025
Ground nubbins of paprika, cumin, sage and black pepper that have moldered into flavorless, colored molecules.
—Scott Hocker, theweek, 23 Dec. 2024
Heffernan, a gravely captivating newcomer, wraps each expression and gesture around a hard little nubbin of distrust.
—Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2024
Being a bit of a handy man in a fight himself, Father Ryan taught Frankie how to roll with a punch, how to upset a right swing with a left stab to his shoulder, and how to swing in with a right cross to the nubbin of the chin while his man was off keel.
—Westbrook Pegler, New York Daily News, 18 Jan. 2024
That changed at 1:03 a.m. on Dec. 5 when 192 giant lasers at the laboratory’s National Ignition Facility blasted a small cylinder about the size of a pencil eraser that contained a frozen nubbin of hydrogen encased in diamond.
—Kenneth Chang, BostonGlobe.com, 13 Dec. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nubbin
Noun
-
Instead of a leafy house salad, diners get chunky shareable beets with horseradish, speck and a jammy egg.—
Maggie Hennessy,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
18 Sep. 2025
-
But this particular speck hovers in the sky off the east coast of Florida, serving as a seed for water vapor to condense around and form a cloud.—
Zack Savitsky,
Quanta Magazine,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
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
-
The problem is that standing water in the soil deprives roots of oxygen.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
13 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
This uncanny coincidence — that the Earth’s radiation lines up with the energies of carbon dioxide’s mixed vibrational/rotational quantum state — is how this tiny trace of molecules, mere flecks in the air, completely dominates our climate.—
Joseph Howlett,
Quanta Magazine,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Its black and white or brown flecks convey a fresh, modern feel that's ideal for breaking away from the tyranny of basics.—
María Munsuri,
Glamour,
24 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
This isn't the first time a dog with an unusual breed mix has melted hearts online.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
-
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
Noun
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The slap bet between Marshall and Barney remained one of the longest-running — and fan-favorite — bits throughout the entirety of the series.—
Francesca Gariano,
PEOPLE,
19 Sep. 2025
-
For weeks, with every new bit of evidence that corporations were failing at AI adoption, fears of an AI bubble have intensified, fueled by the realization of just how topheavy the S&P 500 has grown, along with warnings from top industry leaders.—
Lily Mae Lazarus,
Fortune,
19 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
-
These particles carry proteins and compounds that help cells heal and communicate with each other.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
19 Sep. 2025
-
Remove Dirt And Debris The first step in cleaning your baseboards is to dust and vacuum them to remove any debris and dust particles.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Whole Wheat Whole wheat bread is made with wheat flour that keeps the entire wheat kernel intact, including the bran, endosperm, and germ.—
Lindsey DeSoto,
Health,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Cut kernels from corn and set aside until ready to serve.—
Elizabeth Nelson,
Southern Living,
14 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nubbin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nubbin. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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