BUILDING BLOCKS Synonyms: 46 Similar and Opposite Words

building blocks

noun

plural of building block

as in members

one of the parts that make up a whole historically the infantry division has been a basic building block of armies

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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 building blocks Peptides are small chains of amino acids that serve as building blocks for proteins and help regulate muscle growth, hormone signaling, enzyme formation and immune function. — Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026 Moreover, most of that ATP isn’t fuel burned outright but an opportunity cost – building blocks that could’ve become a new cell go instead into the spore’s armor and protective proteins. — Canan Karakoç, The Conversation, 28 Sep. 2026 Competitive advantage increasingly comes from knowing which technologies are strategic enough to develop internally and which can serve as building blocks for innovation higher in the stack. — Iri Trashanski, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2026 Open models can be downloaded, customized and used as building blocks for new AI products, making adoption a gauge of which technologies developers are choosing to build on. — Saritha Rai, Fortune, 15 Aug. 2026 Researchers highlighted three essential amino acids that are building blocks of protein — methionine, isoleucine and valine. — Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 3 Aug. 2026 Scientists have found interesting chemistry in our galaxy, including building blocks for genetic material and parts of the cell. — CBS News, 13 July 2026 Each 21-centimeter-square robot is equipped with its own thrusters, sensors, and magnetic latches, allowing the fleet to connect like building blocks on the water. — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 10 July 2026 The body uses omega-3s as building blocks and chemical messengers that help reduce inflammation, among other benefits. — Matt Fuchs, Time, 26 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for building blocks

Noun

Keery is one of the latest Stranger Things cast members to come to the New York stage, following Gaten Matarazzo, Maya Hawke and more.

— Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 17 Oct. 2026
Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem was at the Six Flags park with several family members to celebrate his niece's birthday and was sitting beside his niece when he was ejected from the Goliath roller coaster, a relative told ABC News.

— ABC News, ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of members

Noun

Five years later, the FDA says that there is still not enough safety data on those dozen ingredients to declare them as being generally recognized as safe and effective for humans.

— Tracy Middleton, Allure, 19 Oct. 2026
Then a toner or essence can keep the skin luminous and smooth and allow active ingredients to work harder.

— Jenny Berg, Vogue, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of ingredients

Noun

The approach applies manufacturing practices to research and development, allowing engineers and machinists to modify components and processes quickly as designs evolve.

— Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2026
The lack of spec components in Hypercar was definitely a factor when Ferrari chose those rules for its 499P, as well as Toyota with the GR010 (now TR010) and Peugeot with the 9X8.

— Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of components

Noun

That potentially allows rigid structural elements and softer, flexible sections to be incorporated into the same object, provided the materials are compatible.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 17 Oct. 2026
And above all, there are a lot of elements that can disappear overnight due to a change in technology.

— Ed Meza, Variety, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of elements

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building block

building blocks

buildings

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“Building blocks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/building%20blocks. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of building blocks

noun

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