as in chunks
a small uneven mass
toss a knob of butter into the frying pan
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 knobs
The video depicted fingers on a MIDI keyboard, turning knobs, pushing buttons and supposedly composing the song in real time.
—
Sam Davies, Rolling Stone, 25 Mar. 2026
There are simply too many in-demand technology features and advanced safety systems to manage with buttons and knobs alone.
—Chris Teague, AJC.com, 13 Mar. 2026
Protect Hardware When Painting Painting can result in a real mess when stray streaks and drips land on handles, knobs, and pulls.
—Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2026
Upgrade Your Hardware Speaking of hardware—replacing your builder-grade door handles, cabinet knobs, light switches, vent covers, and even door hinges can instantly upgrade a space.
—Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Mar. 2026
Before cleaning the handles, knobs, or drawer pulls, consider the hardware material.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 4 Mar. 2026
Giggles echoed in a nearby play area where children twisted knobs and spun a wheel in a car-like play structure.
—Rachel Kraus, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2026
His solution was essentially a modular analog signal chain driven not by knobs but by hands, feet, gain staging, and physical movement in a feedback field.
—IEEE Spectrum, 25 Feb. 2026
Azuma’s paludarium for Dior marks the entrance to the café, with dedicated buttons to control humidity, knobs to play music for the plants, and magnifying glasses to watch in real time as blooms open.
—Kelly Wetherille, Footwear News, 18 Feb. 2026
Sam Davies, Rolling Stone, 25 Mar. 2026
There are simply too many in-demand technology features and advanced safety systems to manage with buttons and knobs alone.
—Chris Teague, AJC.com, 13 Mar. 2026
Protect Hardware When Painting Painting can result in a real mess when stray streaks and drips land on handles, knobs, and pulls.
—Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2026
Upgrade Your Hardware Speaking of hardware—replacing your builder-grade door handles, cabinet knobs, light switches, vent covers, and even door hinges can instantly upgrade a space.
—Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Mar. 2026
Before cleaning the handles, knobs, or drawer pulls, consider the hardware material.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 4 Mar. 2026
Giggles echoed in a nearby play area where children twisted knobs and spun a wheel in a car-like play structure.
—Rachel Kraus, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2026
His solution was essentially a modular analog signal chain driven not by knobs but by hands, feet, gain staging, and physical movement in a feedback field.
—IEEE Spectrum, 25 Feb. 2026
Azuma’s paludarium for Dior marks the entrance to the café, with dedicated buttons to control humidity, knobs to play music for the plants, and magnifying glasses to watch in real time as blooms open.
—Kelly Wetherille, Footwear News, 18 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knobs
Noun
-
The grains of purple cornmeal are larger than those of the wheat flours and are intermixed with white‑blue pebbles and chunks of broken obsidian.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
25 Mar. 2026
-
The frittata caprese resembled a flat, open-faced omelet with chunks of buffalo mozzarella, roasted tomato, and basil leaves strewn throughout.—
Alaina Chou,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Discrete clumps of fountaineque shoots grow eight inches high and a foot in diameter.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Only three chickens died in the bombing, Miguel said, pointing to clumps of feathers between broken bricks.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Our pants had been ripped from brush and windfalls, and wads of insulation were hanging out of mine.—
Elwyn "Bud" Myers,
Outdoor Life,
11 Mar. 2026
-
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
Noun
-
Inspired by both pre-Columbian cultures and modern scientific theories, Jensen made energetic diagrams of shapes, symbols, and numbers in loud complementary colors, using thick globs of paint; the results generate a fascinating friction.—
Brian Seibert,
New Yorker,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Add American cheese, remaining 1 cup cheddar, and reserved soaking water; stir vigorously until most of the cheese is melted (some small lumps of cheese will remain and that is OK) and water is absorbed.—
Cathy Thomas,
Oc Register,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Most lumps such as these are noncancerous lipomas, or fatty tumors, and a decision on whether to remove them is based on whether the lumps interfere with movements or threaten other issues.—
Joan Morris,
Mercury News,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
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
Noun
-
Neutral tones, rattan and brown leather furnishings, and antique-style wooden pieces characterise each indoor space so elegantly that interiors barely resemble a tent at all.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Mar. 2026
-
The Jeep driver slammed on the breaks and reversed, crashing into the front of Acosta’s patrol car and sped off, leaving the gate pieces on the road.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The iPhone maker isn’t spending gobs of cash in the race to expand AI computing capacity, instead partnering with Google to power artificial intelligence features.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
6 Mar. 2026
-
There are gobs of money to be made selling enterprise software, but dulling the impact of AI is also a useful feint.—
Josh Tyrangiel,
The Atlantic,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Knobs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knobs. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
