: opposition to the locating of something considered undesirable (such as a prison or incinerator) in one's neighborhood
Examples of NIMBY in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
These aren’t just NIMBY complaints—not in the pejorative sense, at least.
—
IEEE Spectrum, 7 May 2026
Every permit delay, every NIMBY appeal adds dollars while people sleep outside.
—Linh Tat, Oc Register, 4 May 2026
This is all, of course, straight from the classic NIMBY playbook.
—Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 7 Apr. 2026
This reality means that the environmental review angle can be an effective veto over development by NIMBY groups and others acting out of ideological rather than environmentally-conscious concerns.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 7 Apr. 2026
Francisco Leal, a resident and lead organizer for NIMBY Imperial, said that’s a major part of its appeal.
—Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2026
And many municipalities, responding to impassioned NIMBY locals, are actively fighting top-down, state-level attempts to meaningfully move the needle on new housing development.
—Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 24 Feb. 2026
The campaign could open yet another front in the eternal NIMBY vs. YIMBY war and potentially turn the contest to succeed Pelosi into a referendum on the best way to bring down astronomical rents and home prices.
—J.d. Morris, San Francisco Chronicle, 9 Dec. 2025
Most Americans no longer fit the NIMBY stereotype.
—Jaime Catmull, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025
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IEEE Spectrum, 7 May 2026
Every permit delay, every NIMBY appeal adds dollars while people sleep outside.
—Linh Tat, Oc Register, 4 May 2026
This is all, of course, straight from the classic NIMBY playbook.
—Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 7 Apr. 2026
This reality means that the environmental review angle can be an effective veto over development by NIMBY groups and others acting out of ideological rather than environmentally-conscious concerns.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 7 Apr. 2026
Francisco Leal, a resident and lead organizer for NIMBY Imperial, said that’s a major part of its appeal.
—Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2026
And many municipalities, responding to impassioned NIMBY locals, are actively fighting top-down, state-level attempts to meaningfully move the needle on new housing development.
—Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 24 Feb. 2026
The campaign could open yet another front in the eternal NIMBY vs. YIMBY war and potentially turn the contest to succeed Pelosi into a referendum on the best way to bring down astronomical rents and home prices.
—J.d. Morris, San Francisco Chronicle, 9 Dec. 2025
Most Americans no longer fit the NIMBY stereotype.
—Jaime Catmull, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“NIMBY.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/NIMBY. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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