cub
noun
ˈkəb 
1
a
: a young carnivorous mammal (such as a bear, fox, or lion)
b
: a young shark
2
: a young person
3
: apprentice
especially : an inexperienced newspaper reporter
Synonyms
- abecedarian
- apprentice
- babe
- beginner
- colt
- fledgling
- freshman
- greenhorn
- neophyte
- newbie
- newcomer
- novice
- novitiate
- punk
- recruit
- rook
- rookie
- tenderfoot
- tyro
- virgin
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
the kind of big story that can propel a cub reporter into the stratosphere of the newspaper world assigned to teach a bunch of young cubs how to play baseball
Recent Examples on the Web The two of them eventually established a personal as well as professional relationship that centered on a young ocelot cub that probably would not have survived without their aid. 
Stephen Farber, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Sep. 2022 An accompanying video showed the brown cub frolicking down a grassy hill. María Luisa Paúl, Washington Post, 12 Aug. 2022 The Polar Bear was just a cub in October 2000, only five years old when the Yankees danced on the lawn at Shea Stadium after winning their third title in a row. New York Times, 28 July 2022 The youngster in this case is a leopard cub named Leo, who gets a pen for his birthday. Meghan Cox Gurdon, WSJ, 11 Feb. 2022 In one of the pictures, her husband is photographed posing beside her holding their little cub in the air. Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 23 Aug. 2022 The girl was the firstborn cub, followed by the two boys. Claire Rafford, The Indianapolis Star, 30 June 2022 The sheriff's office said the bear was an adult female, and one cub was seen running off as the bear ran toward the home. CBS News, 23 May 2022 The bear, identified by authorities as an adult female, appeared to have a cub, which was seen running off as the bear charged the house. Joseph Bonheim, CNN, 22 May 2022 See More
Stephen Farber, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Sep. 2022 An accompanying video showed the brown cub frolicking down a grassy hill. María Luisa Paúl, Washington Post, 12 Aug. 2022 The Polar Bear was just a cub in October 2000, only five years old when the Yankees danced on the lawn at Shea Stadium after winning their third title in a row. New York Times, 28 July 2022 The youngster in this case is a leopard cub named Leo, who gets a pen for his birthday. Meghan Cox Gurdon, WSJ, 11 Feb. 2022 In one of the pictures, her husband is photographed posing beside her holding their little cub in the air. Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 23 Aug. 2022 The girl was the firstborn cub, followed by the two boys. Claire Rafford, The Indianapolis Star, 30 June 2022 The sheriff's office said the bear was an adult female, and one cub was seen running off as the bear ran toward the home. CBS News, 23 May 2022 The bear, identified by authorities as an adult female, appeared to have a cub, which was seen running off as the bear charged the house. Joseph Bonheim, CNN, 22 May 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
probably akin to Middle English cobbe leader of a group, head — more at cob
First Known Use
1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Phrases Containing cub
Kids Definition
cub
noun
ˈkəb
1
: the young of various animals (as the bear, fox, or lion)
2
: cub scout
cubs
noun
1
as in novices
a person who is just starting out in a field of activity the kind of big story that can propel a cub reporter into the stratosphere of the newspaper world Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- novices
- rookies
- apprentices
- freshmen
- beginners
- newcomers
- colts
- fledglings
- rooks
- recruits
- virgins
- greenhorns
- punks
- students
- babes
- newbies
- novitiates
- tenderfeet
- tyros
- tenderfoots
- neophytes
- abecedarians
- boots
- trainees
- candidates
- amateurs
- learners
- dabblers
- entrants
- probationers
- dilettanti
- dilettantes
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- vets
- veterans
- old hands
- masters
- professionals
- old-timers
- pros
- experts
2
as in kids
a young person who is between infancy and adulthood assigned to teach a bunch of young cubs how to play baseball Synonyms & Similar Words
- kids
- children
- chicks
- juveniles
- babies
- youngsters
- youths
- monkeys
- teenagers
- buds
- younglings
- kiddos
- whelps
- moppets
- kiddies
- teens
- infants
- adolescents
- bairns
- sprouts
- toddlers
- sprats
- bambinos
- squirts
- sprat
- newborn
- chaps
- bambini
- minors
- preschoolers
- neonates
- nestlings
- schoolchildren
- newborns
- tykes
- babes
- rascals
- weanlings
- schoolboys
- kindergartners
- tots
- schoolkids
- schoolgirls
- kindergarteners
- lads
- imps
- rug rats
- urchins
- rogues
- cherubs
- devils
- whippersnappers
- rapscallions
- preteens
- teenyboppers
- teeners
- tikes
- hellions
- tads
- striplings
- tweens
- tomboys
- nippers
- mischiefs
- subteens
- shavers
- bantlings
- jackanapeses
- cherubim
- preteen-agers
- bobby-soxers
- hoydens
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- adults
- elders
- senior citizens
- grown-ups
- oldsters
- seniors
- ancients
- middle-agers
- golden-agers
- old-timers