1
as in chunks
a small uneven mass
throw a nub of butter into the frying pan
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in roots
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 nubs
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
My rubber-shod toes were pressed on little nubs the size of chicken nuggets.
—Emily Meg Weinstein
september 5, Literary Hub, 5 Sep. 2025
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
My rubber-shod toes were pressed on little nubs the size of chicken nuggets.
—Emily Meg Weinstein
september 5, Literary Hub, 5 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nubs
Noun
-
Add ground beef to center; cook, stirring to break up any large chunks, until browned, 6 to 7 minutes.—
Sabrina Weiss,
PEOPLE,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Council members took aim at three chunks of Ada County along Interstate 84, areas the city is calling South Airport, Third Bench and East Columbia.—
Mark Dee
January 29,
Idaho Statesman,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Freed from some of the commercial pressures, creators are going back to their roots and getting weird, and perhaps building the foundation of the future of immersive content.—
Cortney Harding,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
John Rambo takes audiences back, years before the events of First Blood, diving deep into the roots and experiences that forged one of the big screen’s most enduring and complex characters.—
Dessi Gomez,
Deadline,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
On its voyage through intergalactic space, that light traverses countless clumps of dark matter.—
Joseph Howlett,
Scientific American,
25 Jan. 2026
-
Gather the clumps of hair and dispose of them before vacuuming any remaining bits.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
But Canadian superstar Connor McDavid, a three-time NHL MVP, broke America’s hearts in overtime, scoring a championship-clinching goal.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Our hearts were and are still broken.—
Hope Hunt,
Baltimore Sun,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The new observations show that magnetic fields play a central role in launching and shaping the powerful winds streaming from Arp 220's twin cores.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Or congested living in its urban cores?—
Jonathan Lansner,
Oc Register,
30 Jan. 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
-
Samantha Spidell attests there were some kernels of truth in his stories.—
Natalie Morales,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
An on-board grain feeder delivers the corn kernels into a delivery truck which drives it to a packaging center.—
Sabbir Rangwala,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Skin care leads the conversation, alongside a growing focus on niche fragrances, refined essences and wellness treatments.—
Rhonda Richford,
Footwear News,
22 Dec. 2025
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And this year’s lineup is loaded with glow-boosting icons—from milky toners and hydrating essences to overnight masks that make your skin feel like a cloud.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
2 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nubs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nubs. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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