as in bobs
to make short up-and-down movements
though she couldn't see the rain, she knew it had started because she could see the flowers nod as raindrops hit them
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 nods
Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 12 Sep. 2025
As the album’s title nods to, Worthington had a hand in writing nearly every song on the album.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 12 Sep. 2025
Though the movie is accessible to new fans, there are plenty of winks and nods for diehards who can understand what might seem, to the uninitiated, like cheesy moments—a cringeworthy English rap verse, a scene parodying the product placement in K-dramas—as self-aware jokes.
—Yvonne Kim, The Atlantic, 12 Sep. 2025
That’s completely fair — even Homer nods.
—Big Think, 11 Sep. 2025
Surfaces feature seeded glass, while custom artwork nods to Still Here’s family history.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 10 Sep. 2025
The report also nods to new, user-friendly dietary guidelines expected later this year.
—Sarah Owermohle, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025
Lizzo nods emphatically in response.
—Allison P. Davis, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2025
These nods to the past continue via the decor in the general admission concourses.
—Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025
Noun
House signatures are also explored, such as the Tilda’s Bow, which nods to the bond between the elder Graff and his granddaughter.
—Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 12 Sep. 2025
As the album’s title nods to, Worthington had a hand in writing nearly every song on the album.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 12 Sep. 2025
Though the movie is accessible to new fans, there are plenty of winks and nods for diehards who can understand what might seem, to the uninitiated, like cheesy moments—a cringeworthy English rap verse, a scene parodying the product placement in K-dramas—as self-aware jokes.
—Yvonne Kim, The Atlantic, 12 Sep. 2025
That’s completely fair — even Homer nods.
—Big Think, 11 Sep. 2025
Surfaces feature seeded glass, while custom artwork nods to Still Here’s family history.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 10 Sep. 2025
The report also nods to new, user-friendly dietary guidelines expected later this year.
—Sarah Owermohle, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025
Lizzo nods emphatically in response.
—Allison P. Davis, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2025
These nods to the past continue via the decor in the general admission concourses.
—Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nods
Verb
-
The reader bobs along in the author’s stream of consciousness, riding crests of despair, anger, and hilarity as Toews assembles the shards of her past to investigate her will to write, which is deeply entwined with her will to live.—
Kristen Martin,
The Atlantic,
27 Aug. 2025
-
But sometimes even icons need to switch things up a bit—cue the dizzying array of flippy waves, shags, and bobs over the years.—
Fiona Embleton,
Glamour,
19 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Both were standout bows in their respective years.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Over the past two months, Texans have used green ribbons with bows to commemorate the lives lost in the July 4 Hill Country flooding, which killed more than 100 people, including more than two dozen girls and counselors from Camp Mystic in Hunt.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Blend beet juice into smoothies or protein shakes.—
Lindsey DeSoto,
Health,
9 Sep. 2025
-
There are dessert items such as frozen custard, shakes, malts and other seasonal items.—
Cathy Kozlowicz,
jsonline.com,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Chrissy Teigen stepped into one of fall’s clearest color stories this week, pairing Tom Ford’s Satin Eva d’Orsay pumps with a monochrome look in New York on Tuesday.—
Maggie Clancy,
Footwear News,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Victor Sanchez pumps gas into his truck on August 28, 2025, in Mill Valley, California.—
Nick Mordowanec,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
These are supports, as Crazy Bull explains, are as vital as what happens in classrooms and labs.—
Marybeth Gasman,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Geriatric care managers are generally people with medical and social services training (usually nurses and social workers) who have particular expertise in creating care plans that cover medical interventions and the creation of everyday life routines and supports for people with particular needs.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Mercury News,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Some common examples include push-ups, bench presses, chest presses and dips.—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
13 Sep. 2025
-
An adjacent storefront will eventually be stocked with wine, home goods and take-home versions of their dishes, such as pimento cheese and smoked catfish dips.—
Miguel Otárola,
Denver Post,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Trump last week raised the prospect of potential additional sanctions against Moscow.—
Kevin Shalvey,
ABC News,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Those tactics are also used to generate funds meant to help the regime subvert international sanctions and develop its nuclear weapons programs, according to the US government.—
Nino Paoli,
Fortune,
14 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
One of the major works of the Italian giallo genre — a hyperstylish series of sometimes-supernatural slasher flicks with great clothes and inventive deaths — Deep Red remains on top of the pile.—
Christina Newland,
Vulture,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Keep reading for the best flicks streaming on HBO Max.—
Charlotte Walsh,
People.com,
1 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nods.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nods. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share