nub

noun

ˈnəb How to pronounce nub (audio)
Synonyms of nubnext
1
: knob, lump
2
: nubbin
3
: gist, point
the nub of the problem

Synonyms of nub

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Examples of nub in a Sentence

The dog chewed his bone down to a nub. The shoes have little nubs on the bottom that prevent you from slipping.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Slugs and snails are some of the peskiest garden visitors that can riddle plant leaves with ragged holes or chew tender crops like lettuce down to nubs overnight. — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 June 2026 Ephemera directs the brain to the tiniest concrete nubs of consciousness, calming the quaking mind and bringing us back to ourselves. — Literary Hub, 20 May 2026 Lenovo's classic keyboard and TrackPoint (the trademark red nub that works as a joystick-like pointer controller) are as good as ever. — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 15 June 2026 LaCrosse Alpha Deck Boot $140 The best thing about this rubber boot is the exterior nub on its heel. — Kris Millgate, USA Today, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for nub

Word History

Etymology

alteration of English dialect knub, probably from Low German knubbe

First Known Use

1696, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of nub was in 1696

Phrases Containing nub

Rhymes for nub

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Browse Nearby Words

nuanced
nub
Nuba
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Cite this Entry

“Nub.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nub. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

nub

noun
ˈnəb How to pronounce nub (audio)
1
: knob sense 1a, lump
2
: the main point of a matter
the nub of the story

More from Merriam-Webster on nub

Nglish: Translation of nub for Spanish Speakers

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