thumb

Definition of thumbnext
1
as in to hitch
to travel by securing free rides thought I'd thumb into town instead of paying for a cab

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in to flip
to turn over pages in an idle or cursory manner I thumbed through the book during the flight but was too distracted to really read it

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 thumb Val Kilmer’s performance as this trickster poet forever thumbing his nose at reality embodies the movie’s tensions. Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 10 Mar. 2026 For months, this young, rambunctious, and altogether infectious bunch played with house money, thumbing their collective noses at the idea of another year of rebuild futility. Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2026 When the Chicago Tribune went after him, stirring up the first of many federal, state, and local investigations into Robinson's activities, Noah thumbed his nose. Gail Sheehy, Vanity Fair, 20 Feb. 2026 Why did Lucas take the note from De Palma while thumbing his nose at studio suggestions? Michael O’Donnell, The Atlantic, 10 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for thumb
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thumb
Verb
  • Bessent hitched his wagon to Trump in 2023, using his reputation on Wall Street to rally support among business leaders for the returning president.
    Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 25 Apr. 2026
  • Following her character’s breakup with a cowboy (played by Luke Grimes), Langley hitches a ride back to Tennessee with a sage country singer who’s already seen it all (Miranda Lambert).
    Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 24 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Now flip it around and imagine Pavia as a mini-Mendoza, a guy who projects to spend quiet nights playing Clue with Kirk Cousins and his family in greater Las Vegas.
    Joe Rexrode, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
  • Now there’s a chance to flip the script — using money the borough’s wealthier neighbor has already generated.
    Peter Peyser, New York Daily News, 26 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • On March 17, a video obtained by TMZ showed LaBeouf in a hotel lobby in Rome, Italy, wearing only his underwear and trying to bum a light for a cigarette.
    Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 1 Apr. 2026
  • Spring cleaning bumming you out?
    K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 31 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • At the site, trees are leafing as workers add finishing touches.
    Aria Jones, Dallas Morning News, 25 Mar. 2026
  • But other begonia varieties have foliage that can hold its own in the garden when the plants aren't flowering, too, like the Polka Dot begonia (Begonia maculata) and the orange-leafed 'Autumn Crinkle' begonia, a rhizomatous hybrid.
    Derek Carwood, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The incident occurred near an area where Israeli soldiers would often gather and attempt to hitchhike.
    Peter D'Abrosca, FOXNews.com, 24 Apr. 2026
  • At Loyola, his eye for the absurd found a feast in the French Quarter; his interview series, Quarter Confessions, eventually birthed his memoir-zine, All Gas, No Brakes, a document of a 70-day hitchhiking journey across America.
    Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • This cardigan features a slightly cropped cut that skims the waist, a crew neckline, tonal iridescent buttons, and a ribbed trim.
    Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 29 Apr. 2026
  • Bodies were sighted, but fuel that could have been easily ignited and the natural terrain hampered rescue efforts to the point where even airboats were eventually prohibited from skimming the river of grass to help.
    Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 21 Apr. 2026

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“Thumb.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thumb. Accessed 2 May. 2026.

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