1
as in chunks
a small uneven mass
throw a nub of butter into the frying pan
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of nubs
Her trick is to finely chop the ginger, instead of grating it, so there are spicy-sweet nubs in each bite.
—
Nina Moskowitz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 Mar. 2026
Best Nylabone chew toys for puppies This three-pack includes one softer starter bone with nubs that are great for teething, one slightly tougher bone to move onto and one edible bone.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2026
Legs were wound down to nubs and heads inflated to egregious proportions.
—Andrew Norman Wilson, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
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
Nina Moskowitz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 Mar. 2026
Best Nylabone chew toys for puppies This three-pack includes one softer starter bone with nubs that are great for teething, one slightly tougher bone to move onto and one edible bone.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2026
Legs were wound down to nubs and heads inflated to egregious proportions.
—Andrew Norman Wilson, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nubs
Noun
-
There are tender chunks of organic rotisserie chicken, Little Gem lettuce, tiny garlicky croutons, avocado, parm, and a light coating of Caesar dressing (in addition to the cup on the side), in a grain-free Coyotas tortilla wrap.—
Kate Kassin,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
30 Apr. 2026
-
One of the biggest chunks out of family budgets?—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
As a city that is always negotiating with modernity, the tradition of jol khabar remains a comforting anchor, binding generations to their cultural roots and evoking nostalgia.—
Madhushree Basu Roy,
Saveur,
30 Apr. 2026
-
The ancient technique used by Indigenous farmers helps direct rainfall to their roots.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Down her leg, under her favorite nightgown, came loose stool, clumps of it falling across the carpet.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 May 2026
-
Setting the cutting height too low can cause the lawn to burn out in the hot sun and may also force the mower blades into contact with dirt clumps, bumps in the yard, or low-lying obstacles, such as small rocks.—
Timothy Dale,
Better Homes & Gardens,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
These same aging indicators didn’t show up in the comparison hearts.—
Jeanna Bryner,
Scientific American,
4 May 2026
-
Weird things happen to astronauts' hearts in microgravity.—
Tereza Pultarova,
Space.com,
3 May 2026
Noun
-
Jackson and other experts detail why apple cores and other food waste are harmful, and why the best way to protect our natural habitats is not to throw anything out, even the seemingly harmless bits.—
Emily Hayes,
Martha Stewart,
2 May 2026
-
Interior to the soot line, only exposed planetary cores can exist.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Not as punishment, but to better know our playing grounds and appreciate the big and small things—like freeing wads of vegetation from an undercarriage—that turn a field into a stage.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
1 May 2026
-
Cubans have long been accustomed to shopping with wads of cash stuffed into bags after compounding bouts of soaring inflation.—
Prashant Rao,
semafor.com,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Also known as wheat kernels, wheat berries are encased in husks zipped along the tops of stalks and removed in a process known as threshing.—
The New York Times News Service Syndicate,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Apr. 2026
-
The kernels are so juicy and just burst in your mouth.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The chemicals made their way into Lake Apopka, turning the crystal clear waters into a pea-green soup filled with globs of gooey algae.—
Stephen Hudak,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 May 2026
-
Most nail artists use a clear gel with a thick consistency (Chue opts for the Aprés Builder Top Gelcoat) to create these designs, ranging from simple globs to translucent jelly ridges.—
Annie Blay-Tettey,
Allure,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nubs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nubs. Accessed 6 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
