as in balls
a more or less round body or mass
out of the countless celestial orbs twirling in space, the planet Earth remains the only one we can call home, so perhaps we should take care of it
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Recent Examples of orbs
Here, concrete and granite orbs (and even bowling balls) echo rounded plants such as ornamental kales and coleus topiaries.
—
Midwest Living, 22 Apr. 2026
There, thousands of translucent orbs smaller than peas bob in the water column below the fishing dock.
—Marlowe Starling, Quanta Magazine, 20 Mar. 2026
Their crop tops and miniskirts were covered in plastic orbs, which were layered over nude fabric.
—Hannah Malach, InStyle, 11 Mar. 2026
Still, those people who live in either of these two orbs will see prices go higher.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 8 Mar. 2026
The paved trail also includes an underpass that opens up to a cascade of glowing orbs, which will illuminate the path at night.
—James Taylor, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
Even the baby's bedroom got a birthday makeover; a final slide included in a roundup of party photos shows silver balloons spelling out her name and more pink, orange and white orbs floating up to the ceiling.
—Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 28 Nov. 2025
Instead of stacks of money or safety deposit boxes, there are cameras, lights and screens fastened together to create two giant orbs.
—ABC News, 3 Nov. 2025
These states’ extensive coastlines may explain part of the clustering, but the types of objects described—ranging from glowing orbs to submerged shapes that move at high speed—suggest something far more unusual.
—Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
Midwest Living, 22 Apr. 2026
There, thousands of translucent orbs smaller than peas bob in the water column below the fishing dock.
—Marlowe Starling, Quanta Magazine, 20 Mar. 2026
Their crop tops and miniskirts were covered in plastic orbs, which were layered over nude fabric.
—Hannah Malach, InStyle, 11 Mar. 2026
Still, those people who live in either of these two orbs will see prices go higher.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 8 Mar. 2026
The paved trail also includes an underpass that opens up to a cascade of glowing orbs, which will illuminate the path at night.
—James Taylor, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
Even the baby's bedroom got a birthday makeover; a final slide included in a roundup of party photos shows silver balloons spelling out her name and more pink, orange and white orbs floating up to the ceiling.
—Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 28 Nov. 2025
Instead of stacks of money or safety deposit boxes, there are cameras, lights and screens fastened together to create two giant orbs.
—ABC News, 3 Nov. 2025
These states’ extensive coastlines may explain part of the clustering, but the types of objects described—ranging from glowing orbs to submerged shapes that move at high speed—suggest something far more unusual.
—Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for orbs
Noun
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While mice are mostly optical now (instead of using balls), dust can still stick on the buttons.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
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The Royals won the match by six wickets, with four balls left, to keep them in fourth on level points with Royal Challengers Bengalaru and Sunrisers Hyderabad, one point off the top spot.—
Jessica Hopkins,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
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There is Fedora, a city that preserves in glass globes models of the city that might have been, making enduring art of futures that were possible once but are possible no longer.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
8 Apr. 2026
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In a garden designed by Denler Hobart Gardens, beautiful boxwood cones and globes are paired to enhance a stone patio's charm.—
Lauren Dunec Hoang,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
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For weeks, voices across Europe’s cultural and political spheres—including Italy’s culture minister—have urged Venice Biennale organizers to shutter the Russian Pavilion, as the country’s war against Ukraine remains ongoing.—
Tessa Solomon,
ARTnews.com,
28 Apr. 2026
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Comments pose challenges to the gatekeeping office of a news medium but the opening up of these digital public spheres has given people an opportunity to address certain issues in an unfettered fashion.—
Shepherd Mpofu,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Orbs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/orbs. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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