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Synonyms of nilnext
nil adjective

Examples of nil in a Sentence

They took a 2 to nil lead in the second half of the game. the difference in the audio performance of those two CD players is nil
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Ahmed put him in the spin cycle and fired a cross that White easily chested across the line – 3-nil. Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Nov. 2025 While the chance of such scenarios playing out is close to nil, McLaren is not ruling Verstappen out, especially after the race at Baku, where the Papaya outfit was on the back foot in many ways. Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Oct. 2025 With the score tied at nil-nil, Coda has his penalty saved, awarded when Giuseppe Sibilli was brought down in the area. David Ferrini, Forbes.com, 30 Mar. 2025 Over eleven years, the latter seven or eight of them devoted to New Deal therapy, the economy’s growth was absolute nil. Brian Domitrovic, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for nil

Word History

Etymology

Latin, nothing, contraction of nihil, from Old Latin nihilum, from ne- not + hilum trifle — more at no

First Known Use

circa 1550, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nil was circa 1550

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Cite this Entry

“Nil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nil. Accessed 7 Dec. 2025.

Kids Definition

nil

noun
: nothing at all : zero
nil adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on nil

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